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Cumbres And Toltec Shops Up-Dates
2006

September week-3

 

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Let me introduce you to Durango & Silverton Conductor Frank Cianci, Thanks Frank.. I had a great time talking with you, be safe... he is in the Cab of Locomotive 484 at Osier..

Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway number 5.  I want to apologize to my friend Kenneth Smith, I tried to find you and couldn't. My Trip to the Cog Railway was a spur of the moment thing and I missed my friend, but I will go back. The Cog Railway is going to try a year round operating season. I can't wait to get back when there is snow on the ground.

Hey everybody, its our Narrow Gauge Princess running the number 5 engine at Clark's Trading Post in N.H.

Say hi to Therese....

Early morning Antonito and the Locomotives are on the move.

Locomotive 488 passes behind 484.

Locomotive 488 proves how cool the morning is as the exhaust turns white in the morning air.

Locomotive 488 moves to the main and will back to the Coal Dock.

I love that exhaust glowing in the morning sun.

The Business end of number 5!

September 10th and I had a bit of trouble on 488.  In the background you can see 484.

Locomotive 488 had a hot bearing on the trailing truck and we had replace the locomotive.

I left the 488 and the train at Lava and returned to Antonito for another locomotive. I returned and we got to the business of changing the locomotives.

With max on the 484, I pulled the train past the switch at Lava and let Max and the 484 back into the Lava Track.

Once Max had put 484 into the Lava Track, I backed up and we swapped Locomotives.

We left 488 tied down at Lava for the Chama Shop Crew and took the train on to Chama with the 484.

I am on the 484 and Max is backing 488 into the Lava Track, we tied it down there and went to Chama, the 488 returned to Antonito that afternoon.

Now check this out, this is the actual cog wheel underneath number 5, that is so cool.. I love the way these trains just get up and climb right up this mountain, amazing.

Now these took some work..

How about this one... the interior of Rock Tunnel..

Leaving Rock Tunnel..

Rolling under the Telltale sign...

The builders plate on Number 5, its a Baldwin.....

Welcome to Osier, I am on the main and the tie gang is working on the siding..

You can see the compressor and motor cars to the left..

The weather was changing fast as you can see in the picture's.

View thru the Motor Car windshield.

You can see how they have the equipment set up on the flat cars...

The crews are putting ties in, then they will follow up with the spiking.

A view of the action at Osier.

Orlando walks back to the work zone, Orlando is one of the backhoe/tie extractor operators.

A look at a freshly installed tie awaiting spiking.

Another view, thought you might like these.

Two spikes per tie plate.

That is a jumble of tools there....

The tool car, motor car 012 and 484.

The guys began spiking in the ties.

The air spiker is passed between the rails and workers.

Well say goodbye to the tie gang at Osier...

I love this Locomotive, I would love to see steam climb Pike's Peak.

September 21st and a little snow has fallen on the Cumbres & Toltec.

Locomotive 488 does a bit of switching on the east side of Osier.

The summer went a bit fast, wasn't ready for the snow just yet.

Locomotive 488 came over Cumbres and that plow came in quite handy.

The snow was quite wet and packed nicely on the plow making it all the way to Antonito.

Snow on the plow....

Down the tracks at Sublette, the snow is melting fast.

Could be the 50's, couldn't it.

Next week I am going to show you some really snowy picture's..

The Motor Cars are back in town!!!!!

Here is the interior of the Lewis Entz Caboose....

I did these shots for a friend...

Hope these work for you!!!

The seating area....

The Storage area...

Looking up into the Cupola..

A corner window in the Cupola...

Underneath the Cupola..

A icebox...

The sink and counter area...

From the rear door...

Good Ole' D&RGW 2038.... this one belongs to my good buddies from California...

Heading to Sierra where we will begin the climb up La Veta.

In La Veta and on the House track off the main with the passenger train.

Across the road are two locomotives being worked on and three locomotives on the main. The 3 locomotives on the main brought loads over La Veta ahead of the passenger train.

Well there goes the freight locomotives back to Alamosa light, in the Cab is Engineer Marc Widener and Conductor Brett "Charlie" Shawcroft. If you remember Charlie was a Engineer on the Cumbres & Toltec. That means three Cumbres & Toltec Employee's are helping to keep the freight and passengers moving over La Veta Pass.

There they go rolling west... be safe guys!

I am on the nose of this locomotive as we turn on the wye.

Back to the train and ready for lunch....

Now we are climbing back west to the summit of La Veta and we are passing thru the natural cut... it has been said that this rock had a cut in it already and the crews just had to lay track right thru it.

Approaching Fort Garland heading for Alamosa....

Now that is the life, my dog Shadow rests next to me as I work on the website, Good night buddy and see you later... Carlos

 

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