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Well little by little the color of
Summer and trains is returning to Antonito... |
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The Police Officers Badge is
a tough thing to wear these days, but I am extremely proud of the
time my Dad Spent as Chief of Police many a years ago in Antonito
and the time my Brother spends as a Deputy Corporal with the
Sheriff's Department.
Well I am also honored to know
a few Officers in Denver, Colorado.. these guys are the Bravest Men
I know.. one of them is a little under the weather.. I would like to
wish him a speedy recovery and our prayers during this time, your
not alone Buddy, your in all our thoughts and we wish you the very
best... Larry McCandless, a Sargent with the Denver Police in the
5th District..... get well my friend, the people of Denver need
you....
Carlos J. Llamas |
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Welcome back to "My
adventure on the Standard Gauge".... The SL&RG took delivery of
three locomotives brought in from Maine... they are 453, 456 and
459... pretty cool numbers , Huh!!! |
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453 is on the lead today and we will
take this locomotive on its maiden run around the valley, they came
in completely shut down and were fired up in Alamosa. |
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I have been enjoying these
locomotives, they are extremely quiet in the cab compared to the
other locomotives, they have a smooth ride and have the most amazing
air ride seats I have ever put my backside in. They have tinted
windshields and great cab heaters..... |
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Your are in the cab of Locomotive
453, we have our train for Antonito made up and are faxing the car
list to Customer Service.. |
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Looking over thru the Engineer's
seat, you can see the Alamosa Depot in the background. |
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The winters are harsh in Antonito, but Caboose
0306 looks as great as always. |
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Welcome to the Embudo, New
Mexico Tank..... |
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I like to stop here everytime I can,
its a cool place to stretch your legs... this appears to be one of
the Railroad sheds that survived. |
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The Tank is beginning to show its
age, Too bad it can't be restored to insure its survival. |
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And some people may worry, but don't, the crews in
Antonito are plugging along and the cars will be ready for service,
you can see this car has already had its brakes and running gear
worked on and is ready for service. |
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I started this photo series
earlier and wanted to finish it now... it's amazing what can be
accomplished with people working together. |
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Now I would like to thank Rod Whelan
for these great shots.... |
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Soni brought in one of his heavy
pieces of machinery to flip the flatcar over once the initial work
was done. |
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The flatcar is strapped up... |
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And the lifting begins.. |
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The car is now vertical... |
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Timbers were added to help roll the
car over.. |
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Now the lowering begins. |
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I think that is so cool... see what
can be accomplished... |
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The Flatcar is now right side up.. |
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Now the trucks can be roll
underneath. I would like to thank Rod Whelan for these great shots
taken in June of 2005. |
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The trees are looking good and the warm weather
today is helping spring along... soon, everybody soon.... and we
will smell coal smoke again. |
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Everyday more supplies arrive for work on the
track, here is a delivery of spike's. |
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Now let me tell you about these ties.. they are
used and standard gauge, but they are in great shape and if I am
correct they cost mere dollars compared to new ones.. The SL&RG
Railroad in Alamosa has been receiving these ties from the same
supplier and is already installing them all over the San Luis Valley
and over La Veta Pass where they can work the dirt. |
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Now yes there are brand new ones also, but the
used ones will help us alot... there is a grading for the quality of
these ties and they in pretty good condition and still solid. |
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Good Ole' Motor Car 012, although it now has a new
number.. soon the track crew will be out working again. |
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A special train was run to
check clearance's and the ride of the Passenger cars over La Veta
Pass. |
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The Passenger Cars stand next to a
CLAX Car, these cars are owned by Colorado Aggregate based in
Antonito and they carry Scoria Rock, I hope I spelled that right..
Colorado Aggregate has stepped up production and is responsible for
about half of the loads and sometimes more than half of the cars
coming out of Antonito. |
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Locomotives 453 and 459 arrive in
Alamosa's East Yards with the San Luis & Rio Grande's Passenger
cars.. |
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They are a little dusty, but I was
really happy to see them arrive in Alamosa... A cleaning crew is
already working on the cars. |
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After turning on the Wye the
locomotives roll back up the main with Conductor Randy Porco on the
steps. |
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The Passenger cars have been stored
next to the Depot and the Locomotives pull down the main. |
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I took these shots and hoped you would like
them... |
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A old tender continues on, although it will never
carry water again. |
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W432.... a lot of history there.... |
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The Beauty of Machinery is evident in Steam
Locomotives and their tenders.. now you know why we love our jobs so
much. |
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Locomotive's 453 and 456
were both facing South, so before heading for Alamosa we had to turn
456 on the Antonito Wye... |
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Now I was told I could turn the
Locomotive in Alamosa on the wye there, but I chose to do it in
Antonito... I wanted to take advantage of going around the wye in
Antonito a few times. |
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456 backs into the west leg of the
Antonito Wye. |
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Conductor Randy Porco threw the
switch so I could get a shot, can you see the Cumbres & Toltec in
the background??? Now
according to the plans, the Passenger trains from Alamosa will pull
down the main heading south and back into the west leg to unload at
the C&T Antonito Depot. |
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Now we are ready to roll... at this
point we had three locomotives as the 453 and 456 were undergoing
testing in the Valley. |
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Locomotive 453 will bring up the rear
of the consist. |
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Another day comes to a end in Alamosa
as the Night Crew prepares for departure over La Veta to Walsenburg
and a meet with the UP. I
will have another update soon... Thank you for being patient with
me, Carlos |
