Greg Scholl Wrote:
--------------------------------------------------
> Questions abound here.
> (1) They seem to be doing the runs in reverse.
> Russo shot the 483 and 484 going from Antonito
> (Alamosa) to Chama on the first day.
> (2) 484 and 498 went east the last day to
> Alamosa
> (3) Trains seemed to be all box cars, except the
> wallboard for Farmington westbound. How many box
> cars are operable?
> (4) Westbound trains were normally mid-train
> helpers, but this westbound was doubleheader, so
> they can replicate that okay.
> (5) Wasn't the eastbound run with a rear pusher
> or was it doubleheaded also (484 and 498).
> (6) Downside is more options for charter people
> might take-away from other charters planned,
> meaning only so many riders to go around.
> However I figure TRAINS will entice their own
> riders in addition to the ones that might do regular
> charters on the C&TS.
>
> {7} Don't forget those leggings as its snake time on
> the eastern part.  
>
> {8} Hopefully this is successful as long as [Roosso]
> doesn't bring any green or red paint!!


Well, Greg -

As an eyewitness to the events of nearly fifty years ago, I'll do my best do address your abundant questions one at a time –

1)  Yes, the westbound train on the first day (08/28/68) was a double-header all the way from Alamosa to Cumbres Pass.  The train was so short – only 18 boxcars of oilfield supplies and two flats carrying wallboard – that the usual practice of moving the helper back to the middle or rear of the train after arrival in Antonito was skipped.  I assume – but did not witness – helper #483 crossed the trestle at Cascade Creek ahead of the rest of the train, which was pulled by road engine #484.

2)  The eastbound train on the second day (08/29/68) was pulled from Chama to Cumbres by K-37 #498, with K-36 #484 as rear helper just ahead of the caboose. (Since there are no operational K-37's on the C&TS, re-enactment of this train is not possible — the TRAINS event is being billed as a commemoration, NOT as a re-enactment.)

3)  The westbound train is described in comment 1), above.  IIRC, there are seven boxcars currently in operating condition on the C&TS, so Phraud-O-Graphs™ of the front of the westbound train should be possible.  Eastbound from Chama, the train consisted of 14 boxcars of lumber from Durango, pulled by #498.  A boxcar of tools & track materials and a flatcar carrying a 'dozer were picked up and added to the train at Toltec Siding.

4)  Yes.  See 1) and 3), above.

5)  #498 as road engine, #484 as rear helper.  See 2), above.  In the absence of an operational K-37, the only Phraud-O-Graphs™ one could take of the eastbound train would be of the rear of the train between Chama and Cumbres IF the seven boxcars were placed immediately in front of helper #484, or of helper #484 running light from Cumbres to Antonito.

6)  IIRC, the other charters planned for the spring and fall this year are relatively limited, so those who can't make one of them will hopefully take advantage of the TRAINS charter.  John West and I had discussed the possibility of trying to set up an inexpensive commemoration charter to honor this anniversary, so I for one was thrilled when John Bush called and asked me to help a little with Jim Wrinn's much more elaborate event.  SFAIK, the operations are being planned by Messrs. J. Bush & J. Wrinn with the assistance of K. Gilliam of TRAINS.

7}  I guess I've been lucky, but in fifty-five years of chasing trains – often on the east side around Lava, Big Horn and Sublette – I've never encountered a rattlesnake.  But better safe than sorry . . .

8}  EGADS!!   I have long ago confessed to my ignorance in once upon a time assuming that any of the K-36's – other than #489 in 1950 – ever wore a Moffat Green jacket.  Dolling up a stand-in for #483 in Scarlet Harlot movie make-up for the 40th Anniversary re-enactment of the first C&TS train into Chama was a once-in-a-lifetime Histœrically Accurate event.  'Nuff Said.

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2018 10:55AM by Russo Loco.