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Here is my Sweety at the Stations of the Cross Chapel in San Luis
Colorado.. it is a Beautiful Place... The walk to the Chapel at the
top of the Hill is beautiful and is not very hard to do... it is
worth a Visit. |
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Welcome to a New Feature:
Antonito Report: Monday 15-04. Car 500 in the
Track 3, Jacked up Car on B-side. We had to replace a Steel set of
Wheels with a Old Cast Steel set of Wheels. When we jacked up the
Car, we noticed and after measuring, realized the New set of Wheels
that came from the shops last Year after applying new wheels to the
old axles, were out of Gauge.. I will show you the pictures later.
Afternoon, Car 501 came into Track 3 for inspection, this car is to
be used on the Chama Christmas Train.. has to go under normal
inspection and necessary repairs. Jacked up A-side of Car, Bolster
require's building up work, We will also rebuild the Journal Boxes
on the left side after they have come to show a little wear. The
Centerplate under the car was found to be a little loose, we will
remove its old Rivets and replace with new Bolts. We are also
checking the interior and the seats. No report from Chama..
Sorry!
Antonito Report, Tuesday 16-04: We continued
repairs on Car 501, removed Center plate from underside of Car,
cleaned up and replaced old rivets with new Bolts, reinstalled
centerplate.. Built up wear on Bolster of Truck on 501, also
built up wear on Journal Boxes on B-side Truck. Made repairs to
braking system on trucks, Now finished with B-side, we Jacked up
A-side and pulled out truck for inspection beginning tomorrow..
Repairs continue inside of car, all windows okay, doors okay..
working on seats, almost done. Diesel 19 received some maintenance,
cleaned cab, checked air braking system in preparation for run to Chama.. No Report from Chama..Sorry!
Antonito Report, Wednesday 17-04: We continued
work on A-side of Car 501, We Jacked up and removed a-side trucks
for inspection, the trucks required some build-up work on the
Bolster and strike Plates. The Centerplate was also a little loose,
we decided to remove it and the old rivets and replace the rivets
and re-install the Centerplate with new Bolts.. The truck was
re-assembled and placed back under the Car, Brakes were adjusted and
the Air System was tested in all positions.. Car has great Brakes,
no leaks.. interior of Car is done and repairs made to roof are
done. Diesel 19 received a New Distributing Valve and was serviced,
Prestone added to motor, oil checked and fueled, tools were placed
aboard as well as extra hoses and such, windows cleaned as well as
cab.. Headlights cleaned and Diesel 19 is ready to roll,
tomorrow Diesel 19 will haul 2 passenger cars over to chama for the
Christmas Train, the Cars are completely rebuilt and serviced and
will remain in Chama till the Spring. No Report from Chama..Sorry!
Antonito Report, Thursday 18-04: Well we
started out early on Diesel 19 with 2 Passenger Cars for Chama, the
Tracks were fine, but I did encounter some Ice, so we had a bit of a
delay and didn't get into Chama till very late.. I do have a few
Picture's to show you later. I had every intention to get into the
Shop and Photograph 488's rebuild but didn't make it.. I am sorry..
None the less, Diesel 19 is now in Chama resting after a long run
and a Half-Moon run thru the Snow banks into chama under a Starry
Sky. I had a Beautiful run at night all the way from Los Pinos Tank
to Chama with 2 empty Passenger Cars and nobody to share it with...
Well thats it for this Week, No Report from Chama, but I do know 488
did encounter a minor set-back in its rebuild and I am sure 487 will
perform the duties on the Christmas Train out of Chama.. Look at the
Nov 2nd Week update for next weeks shop logs. |
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Here we are on Diesel 19, we ran a train for the Track Crew, they
needed to unload ties and remove some old previously removed ties..
so in we went to help them out. |
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Now I will explain what is happening here or how we do it.. normally
we use the 19 for work Trains, it is just as Historic and valuable
as our other Locomotives, but we worry about damaging a Steam
Locomotive, so we use the 19.
The Blue arrow is pointing to some previous Dumped Ties on the
Ground and the Red arrow is pointing to the Motor-car trailing the
Tie Train.. its job is to move any ties that fell a little to close
to the Rails. |
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Here are the Guys preparing to do another run... the way we do this
is... we start by removing the Tie-down Straps or chains and then 4
Guys get on each side of 2 Bundles of ties... my job is run
the Train as slow as possible, I usually tie down the Hand Brakes
very lightly on the flatcars to provide some drag to avoid slack in
the couplers. Then as I travel along, the Roadmaster calls out when
and where to throw the ties and the Guys slide them off the bundles
and down to the ground. |
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Here is Julian and Rudy, they will throwing ties to opposite sides
of the Flat-car.. |
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Ruben is removing the straps and soon we will be on our way.. |
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One Flat-car is empty and we are working on another, we have gone
about 1 Mile and a 1/4. Ronnie is riding the Flat-car ahead of the
Diesel 19 to be my extra set of Eye's. |
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Max Pacheco is riding the Flat-car right ahead.. He is the one that
calls out when to throw the Ties off the Flat-car. Max walks the
Tracks ahead of time and marks the bad ties with Bright Orange
Paint. When we are rolling along the tracks on the Train, he looks
down to the Rails and watches for the marks, then calls out the
number of Ties to throw off the Train. |
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After dumping the Ties, we headed back to the starting point to load
removed old Ties, the Guys are riding the flatcars to be on the
lookout for rocks and to watch the blind curve's for me.. they are
my Extra Eyes Ahead... |
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Here are the Guys riding the cars up front. |
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Here we are back at Milepost 309, Now we have 4 empty Flat-cars
ready to load with old ties. |
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Here is the Pile of Removed Ties we will Haul out, the Track Crew
gathered these for shipment out. |
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You are looking at 2 of the Flat-cars ready for Loading... you can
see the Poles we installed on the flats to hold the ties in place. |
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We have begun loading the Ties. |
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Here are the Motor-cars with some of the loaded ties. |
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The Motor-cars next to the Rock wall at Milepost 309. |
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Hows that for a load of ties on the Motor-car. |
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Max is directing the loading and Ronnie is checking the load. |
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Just to introduce a little bit of warmth into the Winter Season,
here is Medano Creek running along the Sand Dunes National Park. |
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Now is a awesome Collection and its Owner
graciously sent me the Picture's, Many Thanks to Jim and Carol Raffa.
Here is a actual Station Sign from Ridgway... |
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Here is 482's original Number Plate. |
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Here is a Colorado & Midland Number Plate from
Locomotive 49. |
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Here again is 482's Original Number Plate and
a Rio Grande Bill of Sale. |
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And here is a Rio Grande Step Box from the
"Silverton Train"... man, aren't these things great.. I have plenty
more and I am so Thankful to Jim for sharing this with Us.. Thanks
Jim and Carol.. |
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Another Beautiful view of the Chapel upon the Stations of Cross in
San Luis Colorado. |
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Now here is a collection of Photos from Docent
Bob Hey... thanks Bob..
Here is Spectacle Lake, it is up the road
heading to the Town of Platoro. |
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Here is a View of the Car Inspectors House on
Cumbres... |
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Another view of Cumbres in a Snow storm.. |
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Now here are some of our Docents, these Guys
were Just great, thanks guys for a great Season.. Now I must say we
had quite a few docents and they were all Great,. I wish I could get
all their shots on here. |
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Another view of the Chapel above San Luis. |
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Now here is the Conclusion of the Moving of Locomotive 169. |
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After lifting and loading 169 unto the Trailer, the Locomotive begin
to back into the loading dock on the Pavilion Display Building in
Alamosa Colorado. |
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The Driver is lining up the Rails on the Trailer to the Rails in the
Pavilion. |
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Almost there... |
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Almost there.... |
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And soon 169 will touch the Rails in the Pavilion for the First
time. |
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169 begins to back into the Pavilion. |
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You can see in this picture the cylinders on 169... you can also see
the crosshead and you will notice the main rod has been
disconnected. I was actually involved in that Project.. we removed
the Main rods, we did this so the Pistons inside the cylinders would
not move when we rolled the Locomotive. |
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169 is completely on the Rails in the Pavilion. |
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Locomotive 169 sits in her new Home in Alamosa, Colorado. |
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Locomotive 169 sits in her new Home... she looks Great in there
doesn't she. The Pavilion was designed and set up so any incoming
Westbound Traffic into Alamosa and any Eastbound Traffic exiting
Alamosa would see 169 right off the Highway. |
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Well that is it for this Week, I hope you all are continuing to
enjoy the Web-site and I assume you are because all of you have made
this web-site so popular.. Thank you all so much. And just for
fun, thats me at the Albuquerque International Festival, I am
standing in front of the "Felix the Cat" Balloon.
See ya Later,, Carlos........ |
