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Cumbres And Toltec Shops Up-Dates
2006

August week-3

 

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Hey say Hello, here are my Buddys.. Kim and Ronnica!

Kim is in her first year with railroad and doing great and Ronnica has taken over the dispatching for the railroad and is doing great!! She has really done a Fantastic Job.

I love this etched glass on the Caboose being rebuilt in Chama. That's cool...

Friday the 25th and a Deadhead Train 4 is stopped below Milepost 288. What do I mean by Deadhead? The train is empty, no passengers and being run back to Antonito for Saturday morning. Now why is it stopped, well on the way home we encountered a huge downpour rainstorm that resulted in a flooded road crossing below Milepost 290, a flooded road to Ferguson Trestle and a flooded cut below Milepost 288.

Hello, welcome to Chama... Locomotive 484 sits outside of the Chama Depot and yes, this is indeed 2006!!!!

Now I would like to ask for some help.. this is D&RGW 55, would the Gentleman who are working on this reefer please e-mail me! I am planning on doing a photographic study of this car... Thank you

Another double-header out of Chama...

I am on the 484 as the Helper...

We are passing thru Cresco, both the Regulator and the Tamper are in the siding.

Two of our employee's have been receiving training on these two pieces of equipment to improve their skills.

There's the Ballast Regulator.

Locomotive 484 as a helper is turned at Cumbres and Oh, Oh.... I have a problem!!!

Its like 484 knew, as soon as we got the train to the summit, my Air pump failed..

Locomotive 484 at Cumbres, we will have to wait a few minutes.

Locomotive 484 at Cumbres...

I tried a few things to make the pump work again, but no luck.. called dispatch to get a hold of the Chama Shop for assistance..

Now look here, I sit down to have some lunch on the Cumbres porch, take a few minutes to run back to the Locomotive to put some water in the boiler.... and I find this little guy eating my lunch.

Locomotive 484 at the standpipe.

Thought I would to take a few shots..

I tried a few things and nothing worked, so the guys got to it....

They took off as many things off as possible and tried a few things, came to the conclusion that one of the pistons came loose inside the pump! That is the second pump that has failed on me this year.

We were able to get the pump to run at a reduced capacity, I took the Locomotive down the hill with limited air and using the Locomotive Steam Brakes. I normally run the Locomotive in reverse with the drifting throttle and then use the Locomotive brakes for a while... This keeps either braking system from overheating.

The Locomotive 484 is in the shop and the guys are working on replacing the Air Pump.

This is the back-up Air Pump, it will replace the one that failed on me... this Pump was actually on its way back for repairs as it has leaks.. we are having a rough time with pumps this year.

The guys are removing the Pump and are lowering it into the pit temporary.

It takes some effort, they can be tricky.

The pump sits on four bolts and it has to slide right out or it will hang up..

There goes the pump, they will put the next one on, but I had to leave for home!!!

A look at Locomotive 489's firebox....

Looking thru the firedoor at the rear flue sheet...

The EBT Hoppers are in the Antonito Car Shop for repairs... I love these cars they ride well and with our adjustments dump ballast beautifully!!!

Some of the doors had damage on the bottoms, so we are making repairs. Some old metal is being repaired and angle iron is being added.

Max is adding angle iron and making the weld, this angle iron will allow us with the use of a chain to adjust how much the door will open and at what speed the ballast will be distributed.

In this picture, you can see Ronnie cutting off old metal to the left and Max welding Angle Iron on the right.

Ronnie working on cutting off the old metal...

That's kinda of a crowded spot don't you think!!!

Looking down into the car and into the pocket where Ronnie is working!!

I just love the way this shot came out, Ronnie Welding on the car door.

Thursday evening, the Antonito Based Wheel chair car rolled into Antonito on my train with a busted spring..... we needed the car the following day so we all sprang into action.

We pulled the car off the train and backed it into track 4 for repairs.. by the time I put the 488 away, Ronnie, Marvin, Max and our new Nightwatchman had jacked the car up and pulled out the trucks.

The Spring has been replaced and the truck will be put back under the car. The next day the car ran flawlessly on the passenger train. That's how you keep a railroad running.

On another note, I would love to wish my friend Jess the very best as she prepares for another year, be safe, always remember how much your family and your buddy Carlos loves ya, whatever you need.. all you have to do is call or e-mail me!!!

We stopped and delayed our train almost a hour and a half to allow the water to drain away from the cut. I was soaked, but cautiously watched as the water rolled around and under my Locomotive. The roadbed remained solid and no dirt washed away, so the 487 was safe to sit and watch the water roll by.

The water came down to the left of the Locomotive, crossed over and flooded the tracks all the way thru the cut and covered the tracks with about 5 inches of water for over 200 feet. We decided to wait as we couldn't see what was under the tracks in the cut. I will have all the picture's and video for you next week.

There's my buddy eating my lunch again... I just let him enjoy himself!!!

See ya Next week.

 

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