Re: Unique Chama

I was last in Chama in July 1995. I was 13 years old and was in heaven. I was stunned that I was allowed to walk around the yard. We arrived after the last train of the day, so it was pretty quiet. I spent the rest of the day walking around with my grandmother looking at EVERYTHING and just taking in the whole scene and atmosphere. I was amazed that the equipment was right there, with no barriers. Out of respect for the historic artifacts, and safety, I touched nothing but kept my eyes and ears wide open. There were some folks in the shop working on 484, which popped a safety and startled me half to death in the otherwise silent yard. 488 was in pieces, OM & OY were parked, and there was something interesting to see in every possible place to look. I learned more in those few quiet hours in the yard at Chama than I could have ever hoped to learn from a year with my books.

I hope all the yard visitors are as careful and mindful as most of us strive to be,
Dave