Spending a few weeks out on the C&TS and thought i would share some videos. Not sure how to embed YouTube videos.
First is 215 running over a small trestle at the beginning of Whiplash curve
Next is one made by Roger Hogan of a freight departing Chama. I am the engineer on this one.
Hope you enjoy
Stan
Awesome, Stan. Good shot of you a the throttle of 489
That must have been a wonderful experience, Stan…
Thanks for the links to the videos…
Very cool.
Definitely have to get out there one of these days.
Ralph
On Wednesday we came back from Antonito with a 10 car train plus caboose. The video shows the train emerging from Rock Tunnel.
Later I had the job of bringing the train down the 4% grade from Cresco to Lobato. Braking a heavy train is challenging.
We had the retainers set at 10 lbs on each car. In the curves the cars would tend to help slow the train and the train brakes were released to help recharge the brakes. Between curves the train brakes were set for 5 to 10 lbs of additional braking. The rails were wet so some sand was used to help slow the train down. Sand helps the car wheels grab the track.
If aditional braking was needed the johnson bar was set to reverse and the drifting throttle was applied to help use the locomotive’s cylinder’s to help with the braking.
I found that bringing a train down that grade was a lot harder the climbing the grade.
Stan
Stan Ames said:
On Wednesday we came back from Antonito with a 10 car train plus caboose. The video shows the train emerging from Rock Tunnel.
Later I had the job of bringing the train down the 4% grade from Cresco to Lobato. Braking a heavy train is challenging.
We had the retainers set at 10 lbs on each car. In the curves the cars would tend to help slow the train and the train brakes were released to help recharge the brakes. Between curves the train brakes were set for 5 to 10 lbs of additional braking. The rails were wet so some sand was used to help slow the train down. Sand helps the car wheels grab the track.
If aditional braking was needed the johnson bar was set to reverse and the drifting throttle was applied to help use the locomotive’s cylinder’s to help with the braking.
I found that bringing a train down that grade was a lot harder the climbing the grade.
Stan
I wonder how many close calls it took to learn all that, back in the early days.
Like Stan says, Running down hill is sure more challenging then up hill. Firing on 315, I found on the 4% grade from Cumbres down to Chama, a real challenge to fire. You don’t get to just set back and coast downhill.
I really have grown a huge respect for the crews that ran 80+ car pipe trains down that same stretch at max tonnage. Now that would have been a cab ride to admire. I’ve heard tails of crews running down from the top in 4-6 notches of reverse, and running out of sand before getting to Chama.
Hey guys, this is bucket list stuff. Go to the C&TSRR site and check out the “Firemans and the Engineers” school. You real do get to Fire and Drive the real thing. Simply a kick in the ass. The hardest part is to get the smile off your face when done. Am I right Stan?
Stan, did Soni teach the class? And who was in the Cab with you?
Dave Taylor said:
Hey guys, this is bucket list stuff. Go to the C&TSRR site and check out the “Firemans and the Engineers” school. You real do get to Fire and Drive the real thing. Simply a kick in the ass. The hardest part is to get the smile off your face when done. Am I right Stan?
Stan, did Soni teach the class? And who was in the Cab with you?
Dave
Absolutely correct. With Poland down for the moment the C&TS program is the only one I know or where you can really run steam like it is supposed to be run.
The fireman’s class is the first one you take and besides shoveling a lot of coal you really learn how to run the boiler. Next is the Engineers class where you get a chance to run a K36 with train in a real mountain railroad setting.
This week I start the advanced class where we will operate 463 and perform switching of cars on the various sidings.
The Chama Web Cams are back up so if you see 463 moving around the yard, 1 of the 5 students will be the engineer, another firing and two more on the ground throwing turnouts.
http://www.coloradonewmexicosteamtrain.org/yard-cams.htm
Once you begin operating the prototype you change the way you run your railroad.
Last week we had Jeremy and Carlos as instructors. Both operate a little differently and I had the privilege of having both as an instructor over the 4 days of the engineers school.
Stan
When I last fired 315, Carlos was on the right side. He has a great touch on the throttle. Ask him how she runs compared to the big K’s, He loves running her.
