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Here's Smokey, wanna help get a new Smokey into the Air, feel free
to visit:
www.smokeybearballoon.com... or contact:
cgriner@lobo.net |
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Here's that Wonderful Balloon named Smokey...... |
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You are on the Old Rio Grande Mainline, just North of Antonito
Colorado. Just ahead is the Conejos River Crossing Bridge. |
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Well here it is...My
Christmas Present to you..... I hope to start Offering my Collection
of my Best photos... they will be used to fund the Web-site. I will
be offering Limited Edition Framed Autographed Photos in the near
future, but for Christmas...here's my First One for you as a Gift...
So this is a super-sized picture file, you have permission to
download it and print it for you to enjoy.
Chama Morning..
Helper 487. By yours Truly.... Merry Christmas. |
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This is one of only two curves on the entire run from Antonito to
Alamosa. |
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I found a Gasket out of A Brake Valve and a "Donut".... thats
Railroad for a Gasket use to seal the Air Hoses upon connection.
There is one on each Air Hose. |
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Just North of the Antonito East Side Yard Limit Sign. |
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Here's more of my Family... its my Dad and my Mom, that's my
Cousin's Husband, my Cousin Louisa and my Aunt Betty and my Uncle
Mario Lopez. They stopped in from Denver for Thanksgiving.. |
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We pulled 484's valve's for repair, you are looking at and into the
Engineers side.. you can see the small hole in the rear, thats where
the Piston Valve rod goes out. You can also see the intake ports for
the Steam. This picture is super big, that way you can see all the
details of the interior of the Valve. |
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You are looking at the Combination Lever and the Valve Stem Guides.
We had to remove these to pull off the Valve's. |
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Here is one of 484's removed Valve's. |
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Once removed the "Blue Arrow" Combination Lever hangs freely and the
we tied up the "Red Arrow" Radius Rod for now. |
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The "Blue Arrow" is pointing to the Valve Cage and on top of it is
the Valve itself. The Valve Cage supports the Valve Stem Guides and
provides two bolts to secure the "Packing" into the Valve Stem which
prevents steam from leaking out. |
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Another look at that Valve... look at the D&RGW Logo. |
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Now we are in South Fork Colorado, home of what may be the next
Tourist Railroad in Colorado... still alot of work to do, but the
plan is to go to Creede, Colorado. |
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Here's SP 7863 in South Fork. |
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Here is the South Fork Water Tank and it looks Great. Fresh
Paint!!!!! |
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Looking toward South Fork, 7863 sits in a Siding waiting. |
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Another view of 7863. |
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Here is Center Cab Switch Locomotive. |
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Amalgamated Sugar Company Number 1.... |
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You can't see in the Picture, but this Locomotive has a Massive
Draft Gear, its about 5 feet long past the Front of the Locomotive's
Nose. |
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Here's Southern Pacific 7863 and the Sugar Company Number 1. |
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Here's some of the Cars stored in South Fork. its KATY Boxcar 5134. |
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Its Union Pacific 903686, looks like a Baggage Car. |
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This is a Seaboard Coast Line Car... boy that car is sure a long way
from Home. |
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Another look at the South Fork Water Tank. |
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Another view of the Tail End of the Seaboard Car. |
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Welcome to Wagon Wheel Gap Depot. |
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Rio Grande Caboose 04043 at Wagon Wheel. |
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Another View of the Caboose and the Depot. |
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This is the Track Side of the Depot. |
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No idea on the History of this Caboose... |
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Caboose 04043... |
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GoodBye to Wagon Wheel Gap Depot on the Creede Branch. |
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Now Welcome to the Creede Depot. |
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Here is my Dad and my Sweety Erika and my Mom in Creede. We were in
town for the annual Creede Chocolate Festival... and yes, I ate all
kinds of Chocolate. |
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Say Hi to Barb Roughton, She is the Owner of the Beautiful Blessings
Inn on Main Street Creede, Colorado. It is a Beautiful Bed &
Breakfast in Historic Creede. Feel free to call: 719-658-0215 or
877-506-9252 or visit:
www.blessingsinn.com its open year round and Creede would be a
great place to spend the weekend, you could have dinner and see a
show at the Repertory Theatre and spend a restful evening at the
Blessings Inn then come over and ride Our Train!!!!!! |
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Its the second day of the Jingle Bell Rally. |
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Early Morning and the Balloons began to lift-off. |
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Looking South the sky fills with Hot Air. |
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There's Old Glory, the Red, White and Blue are flying High. |
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I love the Colors.... |
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There was over 60 balloons on the field. |
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The Balloons are lined up in rows. |
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One by One they fill with Hot Air and up into the Air they go. |
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We waited for a while and let quite a few Balloons lift off. |
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Now its our turn.... |
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And here we go, Viento Encantado lifts into the Air. |
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Higher and Higher.... |
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Up and up..... |
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Its amazing to watch a Balloon overcome Gravity and just lift off
into the Air. |
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Okay now time to pack up the Gear and chase after Viento Encantado. |
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I am in the Back of the Truck with Steve, the rest are in the front
where's its warm.. |
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Here comes the Balloon I crew for and a Big Blue Dragon. |
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Viento Encantado lands.... |
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Well that's enough flying for today, time to pack it up. |
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The Pilot Clarke "Pulls the Top" and the Hot Air begins to vent out
of the Envelope. As Crew Member Hugh pulls on the "Crown Line" the
Balloon for a few seconds forms into a large Heart Shape. |
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See the Top is wide open and the Hot Air is venting out... |
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And that's how you deflate a balloon. |
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Pulling on the crown line helps deflate the Balloon and also lays
out the envelope for packing. |
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Looking straight up a Balloon glides right over us. |
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Well thats all for this week, hey guess what????? I drove over to
Chama the 27th of December and took alot of picture's of 488. those
will be on the next update. Have a Happy New Year... Here we come
2005. |
