Eight Trains, One Day
July 9, 2008
On Wednesday, July 9th a whopping EIGHT trains traversed the historic Cumbres Pass summit. I wasn't there for each crossing, but I did get pictures and video of each train at various points on the line. I believe this is a record in the history of the C&T. Not since the Rio Grande days have so many trains been operated in one day.
This was the last day of my 4-day trip to Chama, concluding the best vacation of my life (thus far). I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to see this extraordinary event on that absolutely perfect summer day.
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Train #1 Extra 315 East |
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315 Preparing for a Cumbres Turn |
MP 340.5 |
Rounding Windy Point |
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Rounding Windy Point, Almost to the Pass |
Video Clip(s) of Train #1 - Click here for larger video |
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Train #2 Colorado-New Mexico Express East |
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488 Leads the Regular East Over the Pass |
488 Meeting 315 |
Video Clip(s) of Train #2 Click here for larger video |
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Train #3 Extra 315 West |
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315, a rider gondola, and Caboose 0579 descend back to Chama for the second train and Turn #2 |
Crossing the original Highway 17 Pile Trestle |
I took a break from chasing to bid farewell to my father and his wife at Cumbres Pass. We parted ways after 4 days together in Chama. They went on to Creede for more vacation and I finished out the day and headed home to Spring (Houston), TX the following morning. That's a 15 hour drive! |
Arriving back in Chama |
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315 Entering the East Leg of the Chama Wye |
Video Clip(s) of Train #3 - Click here for larger video |
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Train #4 Colorado-New Mexico Express West |
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484 Leading the Regular West Bound |
Crossing Hwy 17 at Coxo |
Video Clip(s) of Train #4 Click here for larger video |
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Train #5 Extra 315 East |
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East of Dalton... |
...Nearing the 2nd Hwy 17 Crossing |
East of the 2nd Crossing |
Heading Towards Cresco |
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Heading Towards Cresco |
Crossing the Original Highway 17 Pile Trestle just West of the Summit |
Video Clip(s) of Train #5 Click here for larger video |
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Train #6 Extra 315 West |
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Preparing to Return to Chama |
Highball |
Heading Towards Windy Point |
Entering Chama Yard |
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East End of Chama Yard as viewed from the Gramps Oil Dock |
Video Clip(s) of Train #6 Click here for larger video |
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Train #7 Extra 487 East |
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Heading to the Pass |
487 Racing East to Meet 315 at Lobato |
Video Clip(s) of Train #7 Click here for larger video |
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Train #8 Extra 487 West |
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Regrettably, in my exhaustion after 4 very fast-paced days, I did not think to hang around and get pictures of Train 7 returning to Chama that evening as the 8th train. When the 315 finally arrived, my mission shifted to finding food and getting some much-needed sleep. I had a 15 hour drive back home the next morning. Carlatte's provided an EXCELLENT enchilada dinner after which I crashed into a food-coma. However, you can rest assured that 487 did, in fact, return that evening concluding one heck of a great day on the legendary Cumbres Pass! |