Re: C&TS - October, 1981

In Antonito we spent the next 3 days filming within 6 miles of Antonito. As with most movie shoots, it was a whole lot of sitting around waiting for something to happen. I was quickly realizing that movie work was not a very exciting way to spend the day. Here is a typical shot of us stopped out in the sticks outside Antonito. From the size of the lights hanging on the side of the Hinman, I'm guessing they were filming interior shots in the car today.


We filmed until 900am on Saturday Oct. 24, then gathered all our toys and headed for home. We departed Antonito at 1025, got out of Sublette after taking water at 1225, were through Osier at 215, departed Cumbres at 325pm. I leaned out the fireman's side window to shoot us rounding Coxo Curve.


We arrived in Chama at 445. We set the train out, and wyed 489. He had bought some coal in Antonito from a local dealer. It was the worst stuff I have ever tried to burn in an engine. It was all ash and clinkered terribly. I was down to about 150 lbs when we got to town. When you looked in the fire all you saw was glowing red spots with little blue flames dancing on top of that. By the time we were done switching I was down to 125. We took 489 to the ashpit and shook, raked, hooked and dumped the whole mess down through the ashpan. We then backed 489 up against the engine house and tied up. 530pm, Saturday, October 24, 1981. The last day Scenic Rys would run a train on the C&TS.

In a few days, I had my camper trailer winterized, my Jeep loaded with my worldly possessions, and was off to spend the winter in the warmth of Phoenix, AZ............


Of note, one of the stock cars was the property of Scenic Rys. They later sold it to the D&S. For many years it sat over at Tacoma or in Silverton still lettered for the "T. P. R. R." Also this was the last time 053 made a trip across the railroad.