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Here are 2 more shots of Paul MacFarlands G-Scale 463..aint' she a
Beauty. |
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I love how this 463 looks with a Doghouse on it... |
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Here is the State Line Marker on the Chili line about 6 miles south
of Antonito.. it still sits there after all these years..
"Check back here for
the Weekly Update's"
Dec 6th 2004, Antonito Shop Update:
Well today we began the Winterization of 484 after the Christmas
Train Run, first thing.. Drain the Boiler, we hooked up two hoses to
the Blowdowns to run the water outside the shop and opened the
MonkeyTail Valve on the steam dome to let air into the boiler and
then opened the Blowdowns and Presto.. water is draining out of the
Boiler outside the shop. After we drained the boiler, using the same
hose we used to drain the water, we then hooked up the boiler to our
shop Air Compressor and charged the Boiler to 150 pounds of Air
Pressure.. then one by one we go thru the entire system and drain
all the pipes and valves using air from the boiler to blow out any
remaining water.. We ran the Dynamo to remove water and the Air
pump..drained all the water Glasses and injectors, blew out the
Tri-cocks and Water Column, took the plugs off the Inspirators..
blew the Whistle, ran the blower to clean out the Smokebox.. then we
let the Boiler charge back up and we ran the Locomotive back and
forth to run the water out of the Throttle and Drifting Throttle and
Cylinders.. its pretty cool to run the Locomotive on Air Pressure...
to be safe, I charged the air reservoirs to have brakes.. after we
were done with that we ran 484 outside and gave it a complete power
washing..
Dec 7th 2004, Antonito Shop Update:
Today we did a few more things to 484, we removed the Belly
Boiler Plugs and also the Corner Boiler Plugs to insure the boiler
was absolutely free of all water.. We continued work on Parlor Car
510, we have rebuilt the A-side Trucks and we will install
re-profiled Wheels, Basically we had the Chama shop just run the
wheels thru and "True" them back into Proper Profile and they are
back now and we will install them soon.. We are removing the old
wood deck platform from the B-side of the Parlor Car and will
install a new Metal Diamond Plate Deck. We also removed a old
set of axles from the "AirCraft Carrier Flat-Car" and will send
those axles to the shop and they will replace the old Cast Wheels
with new Steel Wheels, those axles will go on a Passenger Car and A
set of Old Cast Wheels removed from a Passenger Car will go unto the
Flatcar for the remainder of Life in the Cast Wheels. "Remember,
Today Is
Pearl Harbor
Day"
Dec 8th 2004, Antonito Shop Update:
The A-side trucks of car 510 are completely done, we rebuilt all
wear and had the wheels re-profiled, we put in newly cast Brake
heads and Brake shoes.. we also machined new pins for the Brake
rigging and made a few adjustments to the Brake Rods and Rigging. We
also installed plates on the Bolster to strengthen it. We put the
Rebuilt A-side truck back under the car and then tested the braking
System, we made a few applications and releases to double-check the
brakes and all is just great.. Both wooden platform decks are off
the Car and new Diamond Plate metal decks are being installed.
Dec 15th 2004, Antonito Shop Update:
Parlor Car 510 rolled out of the Shop today about 95% finished, she
received a complete rebuild on both Trucks and new Re-Profiled
Wheels, the Braking system was repaired and tested.. Both of the
doors were removed and cleaned and re-sealed, Metal plates were
added to the doors to strengthen them, A problem with the water
holding Tanks was fixed and now has a Improved system, both wood
decks were replaced with new Diamond Plate floors, the P.A. System
was repaired and new plugs added, the end sills received new paint
as did the platforms, the entire car was washed by hand to remove
any stains and grease, remaining repairs will include some sanding
and re-sealing of the wood inside the car. We still may add some
overhead shelves for passengers to store small carry on bags and
such. This afternoon Car 503 rolled into the shop and immediately
had its B-side jacked up off its truck.. we will began there
tomorrow...
Dec 16th 2004, Antonito Shop Update:
Work continued on Car 503, we took apart its B-Side Truck to rebuild
some wear, one old Cast Wheel will replaced and another will be
re-profiled. We are also doing a check on all the windows and roof
for anything that may be loose, new door knobs have been installed
and we are checking the P.A. System for what we feel is a short in
the wiring.. Thats all this week, have a great weekend.. |
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Here is the Co-owner and Driver of the "Just for US Vets" Car...
this is Frank Naro. I was very glad to meet Frank and his Wife Linda
for the Veteran's day Parade in Alamosa. |
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Saturday the 4th of December.. its the Santa Claus Train... And 484
is on the point and ready to run up the line... The Train ran from
Antonito to Lava Tank and Picked ole' Santa Claus and Cinder the
Bear and then proceeded farther up the line to Milepost 293, where a
beautiful view of the San Luis Valley can be had... then backed into
Antonito.. the trip came in at about a 24 mile round trip... next
Year we want to see if they will let us go to Sublette.. We had 169
Passengers onboard and I was able to walk thru the Train and the
people loved the trip... Everybody was very Happy. And look at the
Picture's it was a Beautiful Day.... another Sunny Colorado Winter
day... perfect day to run a train..... |
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A few Passengers missed the Train, so we stopped just past the Dump
Road Crossing to pick them up... |
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Now I must apologize.. I have picture's of the preparations of the
Christmas Train, but I process my Film at a Local Super center and
they had a power failure and half of my film got processed and the
other is still there. |
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We were lucky to have Beautiful Bright Blue Skies for our Christmas
Train out of Antonito, it was chilly, but what a Beautiful day... |
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Here I am running down the Straight-away below milepost 293.. I
loved the run, had a great time... |
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Here is the view from 293, the Sangre De Cristo Mountains way in the
distance had a lovely coating of snow on them.. what a view... |
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Now we are just below Lava, where the Lava Siding used to be.. and I
am backing up... Sam and Marvin are watching the Tracks from the
rear of the Train for me.. |
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Making the Curve at the Top of Gravity Hill.. You can see Santa
Claus in the open car... |
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Here we are stopped at Milepost 293... Sam and Marvin took a few
minutes to turn the Passengers seats, so they would be facing the
right direction on the return trip. |
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484 steams quietly as we wait a few minutes at Milepost 293. |
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Back into town and the Passengers began to unload from the train. |
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484 performed wonderfully, it was nice to take her out for a
:Cruise". |
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In less than a Hour, 484 will be cooling down in the shop... waiting
again for the 2005 Season. |
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I loved the way this picture of the Antonito Tank came out..
sometimes I amaze myself on how Beautiful every aspect of this
Railroad is. |
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We pulled 484 up to the Small Culvert and Ditch near the water Tank,
best place to drain the Tender... |
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This is a Great Shot... what a Beautiful Day for running a Christmas
Train. |
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This little hump out of the Antonito Yard is actually pretty
steep... its a good solid test of the Locomotive even before its
gets out of the yard. |
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In just a few minutes we will back 484 unto the ash pit.. drop the
fire and let her cool down. |
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The 484 did a great job today... what a Locomotive. |
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The Antonito Tank.... December 5th 2004.. |
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Look at the "Red Arrow" we have dropped the Tender Hoses and the
water is draining into the ditch. |
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Here is the Firemans side and.... |
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Here is the Engineer's side tender Hose. |
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And a small Christmas Tree in the Antonito Depot greets the
Passengers. |
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And thanks again to Gary Aubin, we have a few more shots from the
Mount Washington Cog Railway... Here's number 6 the Kancamagus. |
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Here's Number 3, check out the Grade of the Tracks underneath the
Tender, the Rails just drop off.... Wow!!!! |
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Here is Number 6 working up the Grade.. it looks like they have the
cylinder cocks open on Number 6. |
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A good look at the running gear on #6. |
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I love this Picture, they are on top of the world there.... |
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Here is Number 3, the Agiocochook. |
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Thanks to Gary Aubin for these Great Picture's of the Mount
Washington Cog Railway.. |
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Welcome to the Santa Fe Southern.... |
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Here is #92 on the Track next to the Depot.. she was scheduled to
run a Special Charter that evening. |
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I thought you might like a close up of the trucks, see how they have
a storage area there for a extra knuckle... |
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She is a good looking Locomotive... |
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Some of the Freight Cars you see on the Santa Fe Southern. |
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They were loading lumber that day. |
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Here is Number 93, the Locomotives have Names.. I will get the
History on those names for you. |
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Number 93 tied on at the rear... |
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Once again, more Pictures from Taos, New Mexico. |
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This is the Balloon Glows... |
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Some of the other Participants fire up their Balloons.. |
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Here is the Balloon I crew for... "Viento Encantado" |
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Look at the Glow in the Balloon, I think this is just amazing... I
love it. |
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Now the other Balloons Glow, thats actually a Tie Died Balloon to
the right there.. |
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During the Balloon Glow, the Balloon is Tied to the Chase Truck..
the Pilot is inside the Basket and the Crew holds the Balloon down. |
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The Glow from the Balloon lights up the Crew and Spectators. |
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Its getting darker.... |
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Now the Glow from the Balloons really shows the Patterns of the
Balloons. |
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The Glow is Beautiful.... |
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The Tie Died Balloon Glows.... |
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You can look right up into the Envelope of this Balloon. |
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The Sky and the Balloons are Awesome, I love the Colors. |
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Early Morning and "Viento Encantado" lifts off for Dawn Patrol. |
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"Viento Encantado" comes in for a Landing. |
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I thought this was a Awesome Balloon, love the Colors against the
Sky. |
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This is a Beautiful Balloon against the Morning Sun, |
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Look at the "Green Arrow" the Pilot has pulled the Top and the
Balloon is deflating. |
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Look again at the "Green Arrow" all the Hot Air is Venting out and
the Balloon is coming down, one crew Member has a hold of the "Crown
Line" and is pulling the Balloon down away from the Basket. |
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And that is how you Bring down a Balloon. |
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At Balloon Park in Taos, a few Balloons were able to fly around and
eventually get back to the Park. |
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Fall Colors, Blue Skies and Balloons.... Taos Style. |
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And a Quick Note, I always hoped this web-page could be used for
research also.. So I will be offering the Entire Locomotive 487
Rebuild Project on Photo Cd. The Project will be split into sections
as I finish them, nothing Fancy.. Just picture's on a CD. And I will
make you a deal, Lets Trade... For a few Blank CD-R Disc's or
"whatever else" to help the Web-site and Shipping, I'll send you the
First Photo Cd by Mail.. The First Photo Cd is Ready..it is the Nov
6th to End of Dec 2003 Picture's taken of 487's rebuild, it has
exactly 125 Picture's on the Disc.. Just e-mail me and I will get
the First Cd in the Mail to you... Thanks, Carlos"
And now the Second PhotoCd is Ready, it is Jan 6th 2004 to Feb
18th2004 and has 153 Pictures..
And now the
Holidays are upon.. which ever you
celebrate, the
basis of all of them is a time to be
thankful and celebrate all that we have been given
and the blessings
we have received... From my Adopted
Younger Sisters Jessica "who is The Angel of My Eye" and
Samantha "Who I know could keep me in line"...to my Dad and My Sweety
Erika... to my Mom and the newest
Member of the
Family, Young Alexander. My you be as
Blessed and Lucky as I feel I am... Best Wishes for the
Holidays... oh, and
one thing.. I have no problem at all
with receiving Cookies for Christmas... you know my
Address, Just
Joking.. Take care till next Week.
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