C&TS - July, 1982

488 got back on her feet and on the road on July 3. We had caboose 05635 on the rear being deadheaded to Antonito. I enjoyed the trip up the hill from the cupola while 488 stomped up the hill. We stopped for a quick inspection at Cresco, but other than that 488 was happy to be back at work.

Beginning July 2, 1982 we started something that had not been done in over 31 years - we had daily passenger service between Chama and Antonito. When the last eastbound San Juan arrived in Antonito, on January 31, 1951, that was the end of daily passenger service.

In July, 1982 the NRHS had their annual convention in Denver and a couple convention tours came down through the C&TS. One was on July 10. To accommodate the big crowd. On our westbound the day before we dropped the gondola at Cumbres. When we got into Chama, we added another car to make 13 cars up the hill on the 10th. 489 did the honors. I hung the class lamps for the occasion. At Cumbres we added the gon to the east end of the train.

This was the day it was decided to run the first two new passengers cars on the Antonito train. I don’t know if it was because the NRHS was on the train, or just dumb (bad) luck. All went well for the boys from Tonyville until they hit what we not-so-affectionately called the “Roller-coaster” at MP 316 west of Rock Tunnel. At that spot was a series of reverse curves with some interesting track alignments. The twisting was too much for one of the new cars and it dumped itself on the ties. It took them a little less than an hour to frog it back on and get underway again. With time to kill, I took some shots of 489 in repose under an insanely clear blue Colorado Sky.





And a shot of the train after arrival in Osier. Note, the lack of dining hall, not even a dream in 1982.



I quickly swapped the lamps to 488 for the trip home, and got a quick shot before departure.



Up at Cumbres, we set the gon out again, pulled ahead for water, air test, passenger stretch break and pic of class lamps.





Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2017 09:53PM by Earl.