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Welcome to Alamosa and my
Winter Adventure on the Standard Gauge.. The San Luis & Rio Grande
is getting newly rebuilt Locomotives and the first 2 of 7 arrived in
Alamosa Friday morning. SL&RG R.R. Employee Tyson Bagwell is making
a few adjustments on the locomotive as it is being fueled in Alamosa
from Alta Fuels. It has a Refrigerator in the Cab for the
crew, WOW!!!!!! |
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Well I got alot of e-mail on
this so, here are a few more from Hooters of Albuquerque.. |
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Now everybody remembers our
Narrow Gauge Princess Therese right, well I have just started the
"Buy Therese a Car" Fund. I recently was told she found her
dream car... now we just have to raise the funds to get it for
her...... |
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And yes, here it is...
Therese's Dream Car! |
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This locomotive was
Photographed By Frank Stapleton in Santiago, Chile this past
November. It's a 0-8-0 + 0-6-0T and its meter gauge.
The 0-8-0 part is for adhesion and
the 0-6-0 is for a "rack" or cog type railway.
It ran on the Trans-Andean Railroad
from Los Andes, Chile, over the mountains to Argentina. The rack
portion of the line has been out of service for over 20 years but
what is left makes for an awe inspiring site. It makes most
railroads look like they run on flat ground.
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And thanks to the commission and everybody
else involved, the Antonito Shop is open and performing maintenance
on the passenger cars for the summer. |
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The guys are working on trucks and draft gear. |
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In this picture the guys are compressing a spring
to pull it out of the truck to be able to work on the roller bearing
seats. |
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In this picture you can see the roller bearings,
these rollers support the car as it rocks back and forth, as the
truck rolls thru a curve the roller allows for movement while
supporting the car. There is a minimum clearance allowed by the FRA
and the guys are adding a little plate under the roller bearing to
lift the roller and reduce the clearance. |
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In this picture you can see the "homemade" Box
made of rail and strap to create a box within which the jack can be
placed to compress the spring. After the spring is removed the
spring can be removed from the truck. |
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In this picture, you can more closely see how the
spring is compressed and kept in place and compressed while it is
removed. |
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Now the guys are bolting back to the bolster, the
new plates and the original Roller Bearing pockets. I am sorry
about the color of the picture, but the lights in the Antonito Shop
are kinda hard to photograph under... they tend to add a yellow tint
to everything. I will continue to visit the shops and get new
photographs for you, so keep your eyes open!!! And thanks for your
patience. |
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A look at the 0-8-0 part of
the Locomotive found by Frank Stapleton in Chile. |
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Now some shots from our
friend Kenneth Smith. |
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Here is K-37 Locomotive 491 in
Golden. |
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Argentine Central number 14. |
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A railroad Post Office, I remember
back when we would run our RPO's on Opening day, that used to be
fun. |
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Another beautiful shot of Locomotive
491... |
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A small peek at the Santa Claus Train
in Golden. |
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Now this is a Beautiful Shot, is that
the lake at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, i think it
is... Anyway, a great deal of thanks to my friend Kenneth Smith for
these great shots. |
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And a look at the 0-6-0
portion of the Locomotive in Chile, Thanks to Frank for these
one-of-a-kind shots...
You know Frank, there are a
couple of Hooters restaurants in Denver if you ever want to share
more photographs with the website... Hint, Hint!!!! |
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A few views of 484 as the Helper in Cumbres. |
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I had these shots, the locomotive came out a
little dark, but thought you might still like them. |
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Good Ole' 484, she has been running great. |
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Keeping busy... its alot of
work. |
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How about a few shots of 053.... |
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I have always loved this car, I tried to get some
detail shots of it. |
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I love the wood work on this car. |
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A look at the smaller couplers that are used on
these cars. |
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A detailed look at the steps.... |
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And the end of the car, I thought you might be
interested in seeing these shots. I also have many more and will
share those in the future. |
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(-:(-:(-:
WEBSITE EXTRA :-):-):-)
Do I have your curiosity
going, e-mail for details on the Website Extra, and more extras will
be available in the future. And yes, I will do my best to visit
another restaurant in the future... Thanks for all the e-mails, and
thanks to the wonderfully nice ladies at Hooters. |
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Views of Alamosa, Colorado. |
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A view of the first two newly rebuilt
locomotives for the SL&RG. |
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The SL&RG are actually planning on
painting the locomotives, does anybody have a guess as to what paint
colors will be used...... |
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Both Locomotives were being inspected
and tools and supplies were being added. |
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This is a Ex-
"Well I won't use the name of the
railroad, then I would get a bill from the company lawyers for using
the name of the railroad"
Locomotive, can't miss those colors. |
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The consist of Locomotives in the
background have been tested by yours truly and are ready to head out
for the run over La Veta Pass.... |
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That's a good looking locomotive, it
doesn't need a paint job, but it will get one in the future...
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Galloping Goose Number 5
crosses the Cascade Trestle traveling east.. A Beautiful Shot thanks
to Bob LaRoe |
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Now for a little History
here... When the San Luis & Rio Grande took over operations in
Alamosa, HLCX Locomotive 4301 came to Alamosa to haul trains. |
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Well everybody probably assumed this
was a Locomotive that had never been in the Valley before when in
fact, 4301 may have come here many times in the past... |
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HLCX Locomotive 4301 in fact used to
be Rio Grande 3065.. so I am sure 4301/3065 has probably been here
before on numerous occasions. |
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Now this is another great
shot, I would thank to Bob LaRoe for these amazing, thanks Bob!!! |
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Leticia here was the
sweetest of them all, thanks Ladies.. I was honored to meet you! |
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Welcome back to Las Cruces
and the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally. |
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Here are my friends with Don Piccard,
one of the leaders and pioneers of Hot Air Ballooning in the United
States. Don Piccard is on the far left of the picture and one of his
balloons is being cold-inflated behind them. |
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The balloons lift into the cool
Southern New Mexico air. |
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Now this is a colorful Balloon. |
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Don Piccards balloon stands up in the
field and draws a cloud of admirers. |
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I had a great time at this rally,
although Las Cruces was colder than normal those days. |
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Well I hope to return next year, see
ya later Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally. |
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Well there's me, then Mr Don Piccard,
Pilot Nancy, Pilot Clarke and his wife Ailene.
Best Wishes and I will get back to
the shops as often as possible... thank you for supporting the
website and take care.. Carlos |
