Cumbres Toltec Shops 5th Week May 2004

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	Monday the 24th Of May, Locomotive 484 is ready to take its first run over the Road..
	Mark is doing some last minute adjustments on the Safety Valves and I will be on my way over the Line. Shop Foreman Steve Montano road the firemans seat to keep a eye on 484 on the Run to Antonito.
	Locomotive 484 sits in the New Mexico Sun ready to roll.
	Well we made it, Locomotive 484 sits at the Water Stand Pipe at Cumbres, Colorado. She ran Great up the Hill that Monday..
	Doesn't she look Great, I give a Lot of Praise to the Guys in the Chama Shop, they did a Great Job, A Really Great Job on 484.. she runs like a Brand new Locomotive.. way to go Guys..
	It is Really Good to see Ole' 484 at Cumbres again!!
	Oh Boy, doesn't she look great, I was truly honored to be able to run 484 over the line for the first time, She is Sweet Locomotive I tell you what!!!!!
	Locomotive 484 sits on the siding at Osier, Colorado. We stopped to take a break and check her out.. give her a quick inspection.
	Locomotive 484 ran great that day, the Johnson Bar was a little stiff, but the rods and bearings ran pretty cool.. I must say the Throttle is Great and the timing on the valves are near perfection!
	Locomotive 484 sits at Sublette, New Mexico taking Water. The Aspens are just getting their leaves, it has been a little cool up here still.
	Doesn't she look Great... Monday the 24th of May 2004.
	Steve Montano kept a close eye on 484, making sure everything was okay! It was a tremendous sense of security to know I had Steve along with me on the Test Run.
	Okay she is freshly painted, but there is already a little soot on the fresh smokebox paint..
	The Antonito Yard Turning Loop was still full of Passenger Cars and we would be unable to turn around, so we stopped and turned 484 at Lava, New Mexico! We stopped at the West Switch and slowly creeped down the Connecting Track and back on to the Main.
	While we were stopped, we took a few Minutes to inspect 484 once again. So to be Honest, Locomotive went into Antonito for the first time, Backwards!
	Tuesday the 25th of May, I took Locomotive 484 back to Chama with the New Mexico Train.. Donald "ducky" Martinez was my Fireman and Ray Martinez watched the Train as Conductor/brakeman!
	Locomotive 484 takes water at Osier, Colorado.
	Ain't it Great to see 484 at Osier again, in a few days she will carry Passengers into Osier for the first time in how many years???
	Thursday the 27th of May and 487 is being steamed up. you can see the fan sitting on the stack drafting the fire until enough steam is built up, once enough steam is built up we can remove the fan and use the steam assisted Blower to draft the fire. That Back-end you see there is Ray Martinez, he is doing last minute touch-ups on 487's plow. You can also see we still need to put on 487's front coupler.
	The fire is building and 487 is coming back to life. if anybody is Curious, Marvin Jr. Used his Cigarette Lighter to start the first fire back in 487.. we may frame it and put it on display somewhere.....
	487 is getting hot again, soon she will rolling on her own again! And yes thats Rays Back side again. When are you ever gonna see Ray in that position again!
	Okay now this has nothing to do with the 487 or 484, But... I have always believed that everything I am or ever will be is because of my Friends and Family who support me.. I truly am Grateful to my Friends who are there for me anytime I need them.. and one of my most wonderful Friends is Mary Jo.. she is such a sweet, caring person and means the world to me.. work at times here on the C&T can be rough, but it is rewarding to have Friends who make me smile and lift my spirits. I would like to thank everybody who visits this site and supports the railroad, it is people like you who keep us going day after day, I consider each one of you my Friend and Thank you from the Bottom of my Heart for all your support. Doesn't Mary Jo look like a Million bucks in my Railroad Jacket!!!!
	And more of my Sweet Friend Mary Jo
	She is the Bestest, Most Wonderful Friend I have..
	Friday the 28th and 487 is rolling on her own again, and the first thing she has to do is switch out Number 9's Tender.
	After all that work, 487 is rolling along on her own power.
	Locomotive 487 backing down the Main.. its late afternoon sun shining on 487.
	Doesn't 487 look great..
	Locomotive 487 has dropped off the #9 Tender and is ready to roll back to the shop!
	With Marvin at the throttle, 487 rolls along under her own Steam fully rebuilt.
	487 is throttled up and she clears out her stack, filling the sky with steam and coal smoke.
	Doesn't she look Great, it amazes me to see how much work we put into that Locomotive in Antonito, she is a beauty and I am happy to see all our work come to completion... the end result is simply amazing!
	Locomotive 487 backs into track one for a little maintenance. That night Jose, Marvin Jr and Ronnie Dropped and repacked two binders.. Grease Cellars. Way to go Guys, thank you so much!!
	Locomotive 487 ready to roll for the season, and for the first time, all you wonderful people out there in website land got to see the whole process from beginning to end.
	Sunday the 30th of May and Locomotive 484 is in Antonito getting her fire cleaned, soon she will haul her first passenger train out of Antonito.
	Opening day we had a few road side Photographers and a few people chasing the Train. These Fine Folks Are from New Mexico and they chased the Train saturday.. They also have the Honor of being the first Visitors to the Web-site, I hope to have a few more Passengers visit the web-site later. These are the "Eilers from New Mexico" They are Susan, Kathy, Dennis, Rebecca Rasbeck and if I am correct that is Julie Eilers at the Right end. I was truly honored to meet them and hope they visit again! Well that is all for this week, I truly am honored to work with everybody on this railroad, the Guys in both shops really did some Great work this Winter and locomotive 487 and 484 are the living, breathing Proof. See Ya later.. Carlos