Re: "How many winter specials did the C&TS operate?"

There is a book out there that I think the FRIENDS sell called something like "Rotaries on the C&TS" which documents all this stuff.

I think we had some posts about this in here about a year ago. I recall some of the info from doing our rotary videos(1991,1993,1997).

I believe that in the 80's there were two runs of the 0Y in 1983 to clear the line, once was for a movie shoot, but I do not believe these were photo specials of any kind other than the movie work. Might have been for a beer commercial.

Here is a pretty decent list of what happened after 1983.

(1) Next run of the rotary was May 1991(2 engines used), and there was the infamous Friends escort train the second day whereby there was bad food from Fosters the night before at this banquet(fortunately we skipped that). My brother rode the train, while I shot trackside. Engine stalled on Windy Point in the snow tunnel, and had to have the engine from the rotary back down to assist to the top. Always an adventure on the C&TS.

(2) 1993 run with 3 engines. This was a bad one with heavy deep snow.
They were cutting trees between Coxo and windy Point, and throwing snow into tenders for water. Finally the rotary and two engines had to run for water to the top, followed later by 484 and the rest of the train.
There was a fantrip operated by the Friends the second day I believe that followed the rotary train from Cumbres.

(3) 1994 I believe the Rotary did run, but there was little snow to plow by the time they ran. Only the drift at Windy really slowed them down a bit. I believe this is the one my brother went out for and said most photographers went straight to Windy cause the rest of the line was pretty bare.

(4) 1995 This was another big snow adventure. I was not there, but my brother was. On the second day they had something break on the rotary
near the Los Pinos phonebooth I believe, or somewhere in that area. 3 engines were used on that run as well.

(5) 1996 I believe they just ran a snow bucking train

(6) 1997 Rotary with 3 engines. Everything lettered Rio Grande except the newly painted Gray Rotary OY. This was a 3-4 day struggle. Again the Friends organized a chase train for the second day. The Rotary only got as far as Los Pinos tank, before backing to Chama. The next day some coaches were put on the rotary train and those who had tickets for the previous days charter could ride the train to Osier as they finished plowing. Between the Los Pinos Trestle and the Phone Booth a photo run was made. A few miles later near Long Creek the train came to an abrupt halt as a massive boulder was sitting square on the tracks. Thus ended the Rotary run, as everything was then sent to Chama. A day or two later a work train was sent to clear up the debris after the track crew had blasted the boulder.
1997 was the last year the Rotary Operated.

Greg Scholl

PS Earl can fill in the blanks or make corrections.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2010 06:48PM by Greg Scholl.