Re: An Unprecedented Day - (semi-hijack w/ pics)

John West Wrote:
========================================
> ... Bernd is trying hard to put together trains as
> authentic as possible, things like positioning the
> the cars with pipe loads prominently on the west-
> bound legs, empty [pipe] cars on the eastbound
> legs, etc. ...
>
> Altogether it is a rather unprecedented offering!!    
>
> But yes, a lot of other good trips have been run since
> 1992.  Heck, I even remember one guy painted a
> loco green* and we still had a great trip!


Thank You, John -

One of the things that made it a great trip was running westbound on the East End in the afternoon - something I hope that Bernd and Pete are also planning to do in October!

- Russo

* And #489 wasn't ALL green - just her boiler jacket - as was done by the D&RGW for a Rocky Club excursion in 1950.  And the color was matched as closely as possible to D&RGW's standard Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel from the 1920's and -30's.   And besides, I didn't paint #489 green - it was a team effort initially supported by Rocky Club President Dave Schaaf, and carried out by a team of ne'er-do-wells associated with the notorious gang known as 'Zachman, Poston, Holmes & Forney, Instigators at Large' ...

Here are Steve Forney and Jim Poston - two members of the aforementioned gang - 'The Instigators' - prepping #489 on May 16 and 17, 2010:


The actual painting was done on 05/18 by railroad artist Jeff Ellingson, curator of the D&S Museum in Durango.  Internationally recognized wildlife photographer and Chama paparazzo Roger Wigwam showed up the next day to record the incident for posterity; note #489's beautiful and as yet un-sooted Dark Olive Green boiler jacket:


On May 21, the C&TS put together a short freight of some of the cars needed for the 'Springtime' train.  IMHO, this was the real deal - and NOT a "Photo Freight" - as there were no passengers ...  IIRC, the cars were left at the top of Cumbres Pass and hauled to Antonito by the next day's regular eastbound train:


Later that day, an International Team of Instigators drove out to Trolliessen (m.p. 287.5) to minimize the glare resulting from the culvertization of the former winter residence the ancient troll JéBêWèX:


After the "Springtime" train was turned at Osier on 05/25 the instigators and several supporters gathered at the caboose for a group photo.  Principal Facilitator Alan Loomis then gathered his train crew for an informal portrait:




Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2012 11:46AM by Russo Loco.