Dateline Chama: John West, board member, of the RGRPC announced that rotary OY would operate on April 14-15, and perhaps more if needed to clear the railroad to begin track maintenance for the opening of the railroad on Memorial Day Weekend.
The announcement indicated that the lettering would be changed to Rio Grande on the cab, and that this would be the first time the the OY had operated with its authentic livery since 1963!
Plans are to use all 4 operational engines, outfit cars, extra gons with coal, and plenty of manpower in the event snow needs to be shoveled into tenders like in 1993.
Something new for this trip with be a fire-patrol, consisting of 4 hired national park services people on snowmobiles with fire-extenquishers strapped to their backs. A dozen more fire-patrol people will follow behind the train as well, in the event the flamable white stuff goes poof from a hot cinder.
As of Friday shop forces in Chama were putting the finishing touches on engine 492 which will make its first revenue run as the lead engine on the rotary train. It will sport roller bearings on all wheels and rods, and include bok-pok drivers modeled after the famous NYC Hudsons.
There was talk of streamlining the loco for better wind reistence on the windy Cumbres Pass, but local artist and engineer John Coker said he didn't have the correct colors to replicate this in a painting.
Several stakes with florescent orange paint sticking out of the snow could be seen along the right of way between Cresco and the snowshed at Cumbres where sometimes railfan/board member John Craft has marked his photo spots to the nearest inch for his foot locations.
In a move to detract railfans from not paying for the event the railroad has decided to sell advertising on the train to local merchants. Current high bidder for the side of the Rotary is
a famous Mexican restaurant which uses a large bean for a logo! RGRPC board members were pleased at the amount of extra revenue they have collected so far, and due to the high volume, may not need to letter the locomotive tenders at all until opening day! This will save several weeks of wear and tear on tender paint as well, an additional savings.
Cab Rides will be permitted on an a mail-bid auction basis. Two cab rides at a time in the rotary wheelhouse, and 1 in the firemans section, where you will spell the other 2 fireman for 30-60 minutes using a #12 scooper!
Dan Markoff's Eureka has been hired by the C&TS who plan to operate Cumbres Shuttles from Chama just as soon as the line is opened. This train will contain one coach loaded to the roof with food and drinks to be sold to all the folks watching the rotary run head east from Cumbres.
It can also rescue any photographers who got burried by the plow around Windy Point.
Mr. West said that if all goes well, we should begin laying in welded rail from Cresco to Cumbres around April 20th, and this section should be done by opening day. He also stated that he is negotiating for a brand new Chinese engine that will be converted to 3 foot gauge. This will ease our shop crews work a bit, as we will have 10 years use of this new engine, and at China dollar rates this is cheaper than buying a sports utility vehicle.
So, get your bids in for advertising and cab rides, and pack plenty of banner filters for your camera. Then send me a report!
Greg"Blades"Scholl