Re: Cumbres & Toltec Rock Tunnel

Earl Wrote:
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> The track through this area is pretty much dead
> flat. From a 1/2 mile east of Rock Tunnel to 2
> miles east of Los Pinos, the railroad climbs a
> grand total of....6 feet. It probably gains and
> loses that 6 feet several times.
>
> My method of dealing with Rock Tunnel and its
> permanent 10 mph slow order was to approach it at
> track speed (about 12mph). At a forgotten magic
> point, I'd put a light set on the air brakes and
> let the train slow to about 8mph. I'd drop the
> Johnson Bar a couple of notches to keep the engine
> for wanting to eccelerate the train (kinda like
> downshifting your car). The idea was to to hit
> 8mph and release the brakes just as I went past
> the Garfield Monument. The train would continue
> to slow a bit as the engine crossed the rock wall
> and entered the tunnel. The brakes were now
> released as we rolled into the tunnel, just about
> the east portal, the train would be rolling free
> again. I'd open the drfting throttle valve to
> give the engine a touch more steam (I never
> touched the main throttle through all this
> process). We'd slowly pick up speed as the rear
> of the train came out of the tunnel. I'd hook the
> Johnson Bar back up, the speed would come back up
> to 12 mph. I'd close the drifting throttle, and
> we'd keep rolling east.
>
> About a 1/3 mile further east, we'd start down
> toward Toltec Creek. then things got very
> different.
>
> This ends your train handling lesson for the day.
>
> Pretty good for a guy who hasn't run a train
> through there in 20 years, don't ya think?

Earl to the rescue again with information. Thanks Earl.