Re: 1983 C&TS Rotary trip help

In 1983, Kyle Rys was in thier second year running the C&TS. They decided to try opening Memorial Day Wekend instead of the traditional 2nd weekend in June. We had an exceptional snowfall that year and in early May it was decided to use OY to open the rr. The train left Chama on May 23 with the following:

Rotary OY
Pilot - Max Pachecco/Gary Getman
Wheelman - Jim Shawcroft
Fireman - Earl Knoob/Sam Ruybal

487
Engineer - George Knauff
Fireman - Marvin Casias

488
Engineer - Russ Fischer
Fireman - Dale Martinez

I can't remember if we carried a car of coal or not (I think not) but we did have outfit car 04982 and caboose 0503.

We plowed to Cumbres, cleared the siding and west leg of the wye, then headed west around Tanglefoot curve and down to Apache Canyon Road crossing before returning to Cumbres for the night. Thge next day we ran on to Osier before returning to Chama.

After seeing the bill for this, Willis Kyle decided to push the opening day back to mid-JUne. In the early 1990's Kyle again decided to push the opening back to Memorial Day and we used the OY on 5-6 occasions to open the line.