Greg Scholl Wrote:
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> 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.
There was only one Rotary run in 1983. We took 2 days to get to Osier. It was done because Kyle Rys decided to open the RR on Memorial Day Weekend, which that year was around May 24.
>
> 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.
>
Correct........In 1991, Kyle once again decided to open Memorial day Weekend, and continued to do so every year after that.
> (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.
>
No fantrip operated with the rotary train in 1993. We did use the 3rd engine to dump rock down at MP 336.
> (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.
>
1994 was the easy year. I think we did all of it in one day, or maybe 2 short days.
> (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.
That was the time we broke the left side 1/4 shaft... We tried to finish up with wedge plows, but ended up hiring a dozer to finish up around MP 323.
>
> (5) 1996 I believe they just ran a snow bucking
> train
We rebuilt OY that winter - repairing 1995's damage and also completely rebuilt the body with a steel frame under the wood siding. I bet we couldn't do that today without someone getting really mad.
>
> (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.
This was under the GBart era. Against my better judgement, we ran a fantrip behind the train from Cumbres east. And like 1991, it took forever and only made Los Pinos before having to call it quits, We put coaches on the roatry train the 3rd day.
> 1997 was the last year the Rotary Operated.
>
> Greg Scholl
>
> PS Earl can fill in the blanks or make
> corrections.