June 30, 2012 - A Wild-Eyed Foamer's Wish List ...

Brian, Greg, Kay, Rich, Steve, Tom et al -

Since the Sorcerer JéBêWèX is still on vacation (chasing choo-choo's again, IIRC),
his apprentice is going to take this opportunity to day-dream just a bit, and leave it
up to El Presidente de los Curmudgeonos (and the C&TS RR) to nix those parts of
this scheme that are either too expensive or simply not workable.  Remember, the
following is just Russo Loco thinking out loud - I hope it isn't too 'Mickey Mouse' ...    

Since I can't remember when this was last done - if ever - I would choose the era to be re-created as early summer in the late 1930s.  The economy is perking up a bit, sparked by the impending war, and the railroad is busy. The locomotive tenders and cabeese are still wearing the old style 'DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN' lettering, with heralds. Our train would be fifteen to eighteen cars long, including four or five tank cars if available, just behind the road engine, and a helper just in front of caboose 0503. The first leg of the trip, Chama to Cumbres, would not include any non-historic cars to accommodate photographers, but ten of the participants in today's event could ride in the caboose.

IMHO, the train should depart Chama shortly after the regular passenger train - around 10:15 or 10:30 am.  If the railroad is willing, the regular train can stop very briefly just east of the so-called 'Jukes Tree' (see [ngdiscussion.net] and [ngdiscussion.net]) so that some or all of the ten caboose riders (above) could get off quickly and prepare for the day's first photo-runby. Our freight would stop a short way beyond the photo line, so that the photographers could quickly board the caboose, and proceed to mp 343 (near Ed Baudette's property) for the second run-by. This is private property, so it should be fairly easy to restrict access to the ten caboose riders, the other thirty or so participants, and holders of chase passes.

The next run-by would be in The Narrows, near mp 341, where access from the highway is relatively easy. If the caboose riders are trading off every few miles, then the second group of ten should position themselves close to the tracks, so that they can board the caboose quickly as soon as the first group gets off after the train has backed up a bit.

The next run-by, accessible only by the ten riders on the caboose, could be held either just before or just beyond Lobato Trestle, everyone being VERY CAREFUL to STAY ON RAILROAD PROPERTY. The train would then proceed to the highway crossing near mp 337.5. If riders are trading off, stop with the caboose just beyond the crossing so that the second group of ten could get off quickly and the third group get aboard. A run-by for just these ten could be held at Cresco Tank, or anywhere in the next mile or two where a small group can readily line up - just uphill from Hamilton's Point, or at "Valley View" near mp 334. The train would then proceed to the highway crossing below Coxo, again stopping with the caboose just clear of the crossing if necessary to allow a trade-off between the third and the fourth group of riders. One last run-by before Cumbres could be held at Coxo curve - or, for better lighting - near mp 331.5.

After the usual taking of water at Cumbres, the helper would be cut out and used to pull a very short 'chase' train. If a suitably old bull-dozer can be found, it would be pretty easy to disguise this train as a work extra with the 'dozer on a flat car,* the bunk car (if available), the old rider-gon that doesn't have handrails showing, and either the historic-looking "parlor" caboose or the "shorty" caboose if the latter has enough room for us - this would enchance the appearance of the 'chase' train to allow it to appear in some of the run-bys as well - two photo ops for the price of one, so to speak.  Hopefully a few more cars can be added to the freight, as well, also helping it appear more authentic.

Early afternoon light probably won't be too good at Apache Crossing or Los Piños Tank, but after our train rounds the curve it should be partly facing the sun at Los Piños Siding - where we're likely to meet the westbound regular passenger train - and another run-by heading into the sun could be held at about mp 323.3, and two or three more either before or after a late lunch at Osier, depending on time available.

It would be REALLY great if the C&TS could schedule a Moonlight Dinner Train from Antonito to Osier on June 30th - especially if it could be pulled by #463!!**   This train could be scheduled to leave earlier than usual to allow time for it to back into the west leg of Big Horn Wye to meet our train there around 5:30 pm; this might even attract some extra riders for the dinner train who aren't able to ride with us if given a photo op there.  After this meet (if it happens), there should still be enough daylight left for a run-by at the Whiplash trestle near mp 296, with our train heading down the middle leg into the sun.

HHHhhhmmmmmm - maybe that guy who supposedly called me a 'Wild Eyed Foamer' last year wasn't too far off!!!

- Russo (MUY) Loco

p.s. Note that I'm just daydreaming about possible and probably impossible train configurations and run-bys for Day One, added to John's original proposal for a one-day east-end charter in order to hopefully help get an extra engine to Antonito so that he could have a mid-train helper.  Whether or not we're successful in this, Day Two will stay essentially the same as John's original proposal - emphasis on as realistic a train as possible, heading west on the east end into the afternoon sun. The only real change would be that after dinner and an evening photo shoot at Osier, the train continues on to Chama instead of returning to Antonito after dark.

pps. Do any of my fellow Curmudgeons and Instigators have a 70^th or 75^th birthday that we could celebrate on June 30 or July 1, 2012??

 * I wonder if The Friends and the RR would allow the pile driver to be part of this simulated work train instead?

** Her tender wearing the old style 'DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN' lettering - with herald - of course.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2011 09:59PM by Russo Loco.