C&T Opening Weekend 2009
May 22-25, 2009
Day 2 Trip Report
Ride Day
Chama, NM to Antonito, CO
Saturday morning brought something that I had not anticipated. I was awakened by the sound of bells and whistles!! And let me tell ya... there ain't no better alarm clock on earth!! I just laid there and listened to cars being moved and locomotives shuttling back and forth in the yard. Words can't describe how utterly cool that was. Eventually though, I got up and got ready. Carlatte's provided a kickin omelet breakfast; where else can you get green chili's in your omelet and then eat while watching a real live steam railroad work from 200 yards away!!
After chow was stored, I headed over to Jay's shop to say hi. Much to my surprise he knew my name from the Goat. Very cool!
The 2009 Opening Ceremonies did not disappoint. The patriotic spirit was stirring and I don't think I've been around so many Marines since I left the Corps. The highlight for me was the honoring of each branch of the service. As the name of the service was read the whistle on 487 was blown long and clear and a volley from an M1 Garand was fired. It was unique, it was emotional, and it was perfectly appropriate.
At the conclusion of the ceremony we were cleared to board the train. I was the first paying customer to enter the new rider-gon "Cumbres Vista." I'm not crazy about the color, I prefer the original Grande look. But, I must admit that the car is very nicely built. Kudos to the Friends for getting it completed in time for Opening Day.
The trip up the hill was routine until about 2 miles south of Coxo at MP 334. At that point the rusty rails and light rain combined to make the trip interesting... Our Engineer, Jeff Stebbins, worked valiantly to get the train (all EIGHT cars) up to Cumbres, but it wasn't meant to be. Even after manually spreading sand on the rails due to a malfunctioning sand line, there still wasn't enough adhesion to get us moving for more than a few hundred feet at a time. So, after about 45 minutes of failed attempts the train was broken in two and 487 took the first 4 cars up to the pass, still slipping as she went. About 30 minutes later she returned to get the rest of us. Fortunately the commissary car was on my section of the train! Finally arriving at Cumbres 2 hours late, the train was quickly reassembled and we headed down the east side towards Osier and LUNCH!
Lunch at Osier was FANTASTIC, as usual. I had the turkey on my first two trips on the C&T. This time I had the meatloaf and it was just as good. Actually, it was freakin awesome! Stephen Flowers and his crew are culinary geniuses.
After more chow was comfortably stored I raided the gift shop. 'Nuf said.
As I started to head outside the bottom fell out. Not only was it pouring, but it was HAILING too. So, I waited...
I eventually got outside and snapped some neat pictures with "storm lighting." I'm really fond of this lighting effect and this was my first attempt at using it. You can judge the results for yourself.
As soon as we boarded and left the yard the bottom dropped out again. So, we were forced to abandoned the rider-gon. But, it wasn't so bad, it gave me a chance to sit down for a while... a rare occurrence on these trips.
The rain stopped. Everyone headed back outside. Things were pretty much back to normal again until just before Sublette when Jeff dumped the air, putting the train into emergency. I looked forward from the right side and saw a deer running ahead of us. My first thought was that we had hit one, but that seemed rather unlikely. Turns out it was a rock slide. The crew from the Motor Car following us (including GM Soni Honegger) joined the train crew and they removed the rocks.
The rest of the trip was normal and we arrived at Antonito about 3 hours late, but totally satisfied.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Steven Forney most of the day. I also, briefly, met Joe Kanocz. Both gentlemen post on the Goat. It's always a treat to put a face with a name from the internet.
After returning to Chama, Foster's once again provided some chow and I crashed into a much-needed food coma... |
Here's the view from the street across from Jay's shop |
The new Concession Car. IMHO, it's got a slight European look/ |
The new rider-gon "Cumbres Vista" |
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More views of "Cumbres Vista" |
Assembling the train |
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Soni cleaning the lights |
C&T CEO Frank Turner and Engineer Jeff Stebbins |
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The newly completed 488 |
Attempt at Art |
488 and steam |
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487 making up the train |
Firing the Salute to the Armed Forces |
First paying customer aboard the new rider-gon "Cumbres Vista" |
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Lobato Trestle |
Dalton Ranch |
Volunteer |
Soni's newest toy |
This is the front of the train... something's missing. 487 had to take the first half up to Cumbres, doubling the hill |
Soni's new toy |
Looking RR east from the head of the train |
While waiting this humming bird provided a brief distraction. After 487 left it got REALLY quiet... |
487 returns... |
...and couples on |
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The Coxo phone booth and Windy Point |
Volunteer |
Windy Point |
Soni's toy and Jay at Coxo Crossing |
Max replenishes the water |
Train bulletin board on the Cumbres Section House. Note: the 315 trip from July 7th of last year is still posted. I was on the trip! |
Volunteer |
487 reassembling the train in the Cumbres Yard. Note the hoppers being used to spread the new ballast |
There was still quite a bit of snow in the shady areas |
Tanglefoot Curve |
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Heading out of Tanglefoot Curve |
Snow Fences from the Grande days |
Los Pinos Phone Booth |
Cascade Creek joins the Rio de Los Pinos |
Cascade Creek joining the Rio Los Pinos |
Looking north up Cascade Creek |
Rio de Los Piņos heads east |
Osier, CO |
Osier, CO |
The new coal dock the Friends just finished last year in Osier |
Osier Section House |
Hail in Osier |
Soni's new toy. I love that steering wheel. Classic! |
489 in Osier |
Osier Tank |
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Osier Section House |
Osier Station and some storm light |
Osier Section House |
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489 and Osier Tank |
Looking north from Osier |
489 and Osier tank |
Looking south from Osier |
487 |
Newly ballasted track |
Tell-tale at the west end of Rock Tunnel |
West portal of Rock Tunnel |
Rock Tunnel |
East portal of Rock Tunnel |
The boulders that stopped us near Sublette |
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West portal of Mud Tunnel |
Mud Tunnel |
MOW work being done on Toltec Siding |
View near Toltec |
View near Toltec |
Sublette, NM |
More MOW work |
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Sublette, NM |
Mt Ballast east of Sublette |
Road near Big Horn |
Big Horn phone booth |
West end of the disconnected Big Horn Siding. Both ends are now disconnected |
West leg of Big Horn Wye |
Tail of the wye |
The east leg |
Views near the Whiplash Curve area |
Soni on the upper Whiplash line |
Antonito at the end of the rainbow? |
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Looking towards Antonito |
The connecting track for the Lava Balloon Loop |
Lava Tank |
Blowing down on the Lava Loop |
Lava Tank |
The east end of the connecting track |
Mt San Antonio |
These 2 Mile Posts are about 100 yards apart, but a mile of track separates them |
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Lava Phone Booth |
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DAY 1 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 |