Re: RGS 455 had a busy day 10 Years ago Today!!

That trip was one I will always remember - for a couple of reasons. First off it was a really fun trip that required some out of the box thinking on runby locations to attempt to create scenes that "kinda-sorta" looked like the RGS. We picked up cars along the way and out of Big Horn we had something close to 20 cars. 463 (455) put on quite a show, which is something she did all the time whether she wanted to or not.

The derailment - well, it sucked. The tender had moved sideways enough to pull the buffer apart sideways and it didn't want to move back where it belonged when we went to rerail the tank. There was lots of head scratching involved here. I don't remember how we got around that.

The big thing in my head all day was the fact that I had to catch a plane out of ABQ to Monterey, CA at 600am the next morning. My dad was dying from kidney failure and I got a call from mom 2 days before he was headed down hill quick and I needed to get out there before the end.

After getting 463-55 back on the iron it was about 900pm. We headed up the hill. 463 was working wide open hooked up nice and tight with that long train behind her. The sky was pitch black, with only the headlight and a few gauge lamps to cut the darkness. With 463 barking at the stars I began to think about all the great fan trips dad and I went on together including staring at 463 in the Antonito enginehouse in the mid-70's wondering if she'd ever run again.

Thankfully I tape recorded that trip and can relive that evening long ago...