Re: The "FIRST" CATS Train pics

The first train were run as private construction trains of the Colorado-New Mexico RR Authority and the sole engine was the #483 still with brown on the tender and counterweights. These trains were not Cumbres & Toltec trains until the contractor, Scenic, started to run the railroad after the line was officially opened. [Too many more important things to do so the brown paint was not covered over right away, but thanksgoodness it got back to authentic black.]
The gons were full of cinders to fill known washouts and also to crush the sage to help the locomotive to retain friction. As it was the sand was drained out. Crushed grass and sage create a very slick carbon-black when on the railhead with a little mosture from morning dew.
I posted those reviews of the 3rd and 4th week of operation of the construction trains. I also posted the fact that those construction train did not come under any authority of the ICC as we had a no revenue operation and was not a open railroad, solely a private railroad (Just like West Side Lumber). (no hours of service rules as no one signed up or was paid). When it became the C&TS, it became a public railroad like any other.