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Cumbres And Toltec Shops Up-Dates
2006

August week-4

 

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Ever wonder what's in that Tin Shed at Cumbres....

On another note, Our friend Gerald Blea, a ex-employee of the C&T as a Engineer  and Trainmaster suffered a little misfortune and was in the Hospital for surgery. He is out of hospital and doing well, but I would like to ask for a little help in cheering him up. Lets see how many cards we can send him.... send get wells to Gerald Blea at 13 Shady Lane, Los Lunas, New Mexico, 87031.... c'mon lets send him some cheer!!!!!!

Well that's where they keep the "Rat Patrol" Motor-car number 106 and the tools of the trade. Here are some spike pullers and gauges and bars.

How about a few extra spike mauls...

We have stopped at Lobato for a run-by....

That's a view of the Pipe Gondola.

Locomotive 488 sits patiently, soon it will begin the climb up Cumbres.

Locomotive 488 pauses on the grade on the east side of Lobato Trestle.

Locomotive 488.

Another view of D&RGW Reefer 55.

Locomotive 488 stopped above Lobato Trestle, we have just run a Photo run-by.

Looking back toward the train, you can see the load of pipe between the flat cars.

Locomotive 488 stopped east of Cumbres.

Now we are preparing for a run-by and you can see the complete train and the passengers unloading.

Looking forward over 488's headlight down the tracks.

We met 487 and the passenger train in Osier.

Here are the Locomotives side by side, 487 and 488.

Hey Marvin....

After the passengers went inside to eat, we switched the train. There is in clockwise order: Caboose 0579, Locomotive 487 and 488.

Switching the Photo Freight at Osier..

There is 487 and Caboose 0579.

Now I wanted to walk down the hill and get a better shot of this, but I didn't have the time. Here is Caboose 0579 sandwiched between 487 and 488... that's a rare shot.

Backing Caboose 0579 down to the freight special, 487 is on the Main.

Locomotive 487 pulls the now re-assembled Freight Special back past the tank to allow me to pass the train and back into the siding. I am still on 488 and will follow the train down to hook on to the Passenger train.

A classic pose of 487.

I love this locomotive with its plow.

Preparing for a run-by west of Osier.

You know I thought I could re-create a 50's era picture with this attempt... didn't realize till I got home, Marvin had his DP in the tank well.

Locomotive 487 just west of cascade Trestle...

Locomotive 488 taking water at Los Pinos, this was on the Photo Freight and the train was too long to fit at Cumbres without blocking the highway, so we took water here.

Another of 488 at Los Pinos.

A selection of 488 at Cumbres....

Thought I would take a opportunity to capture these shots for you...

Then a young lady with a smile walked by and I fell down.......

While I was on the floor, thought I would get a different angle for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday it rained pretty hard in the canyon, the track crew had just come in from Sublette and now to be safe will lead us back thru the canyon to double-check for rocks and to be near in case we need assistance with the train.

There they go 10 minutes ahead of us, there is Julian and Rick and Toby running the Motor-car.

I am on 487, we are bringing a empty passenger train from Osier, Colorado to Antonito.

In this shot, I am on the Apron on the Firemans side of the locomotive as we carefully walk thru a few inches of running water covering the crossing on the state line above Milepost 289.

We have crossed over the water and you can see the flooded crossing.

Fast water runs thru a normally dry creek bed at milepost 288.50.

Coming around the curve above milepost 288, we spot what appears to be a flooded cut ahead of us. I stopped the train in a safe location and we all walked ahead to spot the location.

Marvin my fireman walks ahead, trying to stay out of the water.

Yes, that is a fully flooded cut with 6 inches of water running over the track.

Looking east thru the cut, you can see the amount of water running down the tracks.

Another view from the east side at track level.

I took a few shots for comparison, to show the size of the water flow.

These are the type of potential dangers we were worried about, so we sat and waited for the water to drop.

Another view of the cut...

Compare the water flow to the guys on the cut above.

Another look at the flow of the water...

I watched and watched carefully, but the track remained solid and so we stayed put and waited.

The flow along the firemans side of 487, there were two culverts, but both were overwhelmed and so the water continued along.

About ten minutes into the flood, it began to rain again and the water increased in depth and flow... now I was getting worried.

Looking down the steps of 487, the water flows along the locomotive.

The water is beginning to drop....

Locomotive 487 sits patiently..

You can see in the shot how the roadbed actually remained quite intact and solid.

A view of the flooded cut.

I will have the remaining picture's in next weeks update.

This what happens when you try to drive a Liquid Nitrogen truck too fast between Antonito and Chama... Be careful, that road is tricky..

See ya Later..

 

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