Re: C&TSRR Triple Header Question

We ran a few in 2001, the last year I was there. the next year was the Forest Service shutdown, followed by motive power issues, lack of patronage, etc. There might have been one or two, but kinda doubt it.

One was run in early Sept 2001 as an advertised special event on the regular train. As there were barely enough passengers to run a good looking doubleheader, let alone 3 engines. I cut a half dozen freight cars in behind the front engine and had the 2 helpers cut in between the freight cars and the passenger cars. I put 0503 on the rear and charged a premium fare to ride 0503 to Cumbres and back to Chama. At Cumbres we cut out the lead engine and freight cars, and the lead helper. 463 lead the train, followed by 489 and 497. On the way back to Chama we did a couple of runbys with 463 and the freight train.

It was a neat looking train. In the 1950's the Silverton Mixed would run the helper cut in behind the freight cars like this. On Marshall Pass they often cut the 2 helpers in together in the middle. I called it Marshall Pass meets the Silverton Mixed.

The cover of Sam Fawakawa's book on the C&TS was shot at Cumbres after 463 and 489 were set out and 497 was leaving with the train.

I recall Local managers thought it was a great deal, and after the event was posted on the web we picked up about 100 more riders, but some upper management types were real pissed that I messed with "their plan" and threatened to cancel my modifications at the last minute - dispite selling 0503 out in about 2 days.