Large Scale Central

D&RG 315, My week in Silverton

Prototypes
#621

Finished up the handles and the trim last night late… Pic to Follow.

I’m off in a few minutes to Chama, as we are going to run 315 over to Antonito for the winter on Tuesday. We will have to put her back together, from all the winterizing that we already did, Fire her up, drive her to Antonito, dump the fire, separate the tender so she will fit in the stall with D&RGW 168 inside for the winter. then we will have to winterizer again. Mostly making sure that she has no water in any pipes, valves, and etc. that might freeze up. We remove most of the bonnets from the valves to let them air out, and not crack.

BTW: I’m scheduled to drive her Tuesday out of Chama, up the hill to about the 1/2 way point to the top. I’m really, really, looking forward to the throttle time. More of the life bucket thing.

#622

Dave sed, . . . “I’m scheduled to drive her Tuesday out of Chama, up the hill to about the 1/2 way point to the top.”

WOW ! :slight_smile:

#623

Congrats again! They are lucky to have you as part of the team.

John

#624

Cool, that should be fun! I’m slllooowwwly working toward that at the ww&f .

#625

Wow, that storage box for the gauges is really nice!

#626

Dave,

When you do get your hand on the throttle, remember that management frowns on Wheelies when leaving the station!

While not jealous, I am envious of your hard earned treat.

Yer bud,

John

#627

No wheelies… I did get to be the engineer, today from start of the morning, Including all the yard switching, coaling, watering and coupling before the days run from Chama to Antonito, Drove, as engineer most of the way from Chama up the 4% grade to Cumbres. Read kick in the ass…

Heres a link to a mid day photo.

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,319953

Thats me forth from the left. 315 @ 315.

More soon.

#628

So cool! Very happy for ya!

John

#629

Dave Taylor said:

No wheelies… I did get to be the engineer, today from start of the morning, Including all the yard switching, coaling, watering and coupling before the days run from Chama to Antonito, Drove, as engineer most of the way from Chama up the 4% grade to Cumbres. Read kick in the ass…

Heres a link to a mid day photo.

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,319953

Thats me forth from the left. 315 @ 315.

More soon.

#630

So Dave, most railroaders frown on walking on the rails … are you standing on one to appear taller? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Y’know you are already a very big man to us!

Johnny P has been after me to paint some track for realism, I note that the rail you are on isn’t rusty! Even appears to be battleship grey! Are they painting the rails now? Or plastic track? lol

Just curious.

John

#631

Great photo . . . . great FUN ! :slight_smile:

#632

Narrow Gauge Lover said:

Great photo . . . . great FUN ! :slight_smile:

I’ll second that!..(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#633

Dave, That’s just too cool! Really glad things have gone so well for you there. Really great to see such a thriving steam railroad. Thanks for all the updates too!

#634

Great crew enjoying yourselves, great job Dave…

#635

OK, Here is a link to some more photos. Note: There are two sets, I’m driving in the first set, around the yard, and not in the second set.

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,319968

After we got the ol’ gal over to Antonito without a single hitch, we basically just parked her, and let the fire slowly die overnight. You don’t want to ether cool or heat a loco too fast, as thermal shock will be bad for a boiler. We then caught the crew bus back over the pass ( Cumbres 10,022 ft ) back to Chama and a nights rest.

Next morning ( Wed.) after breakfast we went back over the pass, with our tool and parts trailer to Antionito to start “winterizing” her. Overnight in Antionito was 15 deg. F. Burrrrrrrrr, and no fire to huddle around.

Enjoy the pics, more coming soon.

#636

Beautiful!

#637

And yet another video of slogging up the 4% hill in the rain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elUE8dzTyzU

I’m in the cab, Firing.

#638

Dave,

I have a question for you. Now that you have gotten deeply involved in prototype railroading, does your G gauge railroad just lay fallow? (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

#639

Gee I hope not. Dave runs the Mik Challenge, and he builds some really cool stuff.

#640

WOW!!! Nice woodworking, and that last video is fantastic. Need to watch that on the big screen with surround sound (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

So, the class lamps have been converted even though the chimneys are intact? Thought I saw wires in the video and the color looks like electric. They are beautiful!