The Colorado Time-Table - 1 THE COLORADO No. 225 TIME-TABLE $3.00 per copy The world s best railroad newspaper Chama, NM Chama Steam Work Extra 315 by Jay Wimer On May 17-19 2014, The Chama Steam Work Extra 315 excursion ran out of Antonito on the Cumbres & Toltec scenic Railroad. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined what happened on that weekend. Durango, it was rebuilt over a period of some ten years by the Durango Railroad Historical Society. Dennis D Alessandro, the CMO and chief engineer of the 315, and Olaf Rasmussen were instrumental in the planning of this excursion. Olaf is a man of many talents. Among other things, he has the habit of climbing a mountain before work each day. I must explain a few details. Locomotive #315, a D&RGW C-18 2-8-0 Consolidation, was built by Baldwin locomotive Works in 1895, for the Florence & Cripple Creek, later owned by the Rio Grande. After When Dennis and Olaf first broached languishing for years in a park in the idea of this excursion to me last Pile driver OB at Hangman s trestle On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jerry Day Freight train at cascade trestle On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jerry Day October, I knew they were out of their minds. Nothing new here; anyone who would take on the rebuilding of a 119-year-old locomotive is not likely to be wholly of sound mind. Neither is a man who would continue, against all odds, to produce these insane excursions. So we decided to resume the insanity and take it a step further. The plan involved D&RGW Pile Driver OB. The pile driver was Built in 1891 and weighs in at 74,000 pounds. It was recently rebuilt by the Friends of The Cumbres & Toltec. continued on page 2 INSIDE TRACK Contacts 3 Towner Line 11 Loveland Depot 13 Events 5 UP LaSalle 12 Submission Deadlines 13 MOLLI Railroad 9 Amtrak 12 Rio Grande GP9 14
2 - The Colorado Time-Table Pile Driver OB is a huge steam-driven machine that drives poles into the ground for bridge construction and other things. The pile driver requires steam from an external source such as the locomotive that is pulling it. At the time, the venerable OB had not actually driven a pile since the Rio Grande abandoned the line, It sat out in the weather for several years since being refurbished. It had only demonstrated its abilities by smashing watermelons at Cumbres pass and at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Among other ailments, she had a bad habit of derailing. I was not at all confident that it could even be made roadworthy. But The C&TS shop crew got the wheels fixed, the Friends mounted a special work session to get her innards back in shape, the 315 crew rigged their engine to provide steam, and we waited nervously for the moment of truth. Locomotive #315 was already in the Antonito yard, having run with D&RGW #463 on the Chama Steam Fall Madness trip in 2013. We really should have called this one Spring Runby at Los Pinos Valley on the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Bill Noe. Madness! So we had a plan for the pile-driving on day one, but needed a freight train for day two. On Thursday before our trip, the C&TS had #463 take a small freight train from Chama to Osier, and leave it on the Osier siding for us. 463 continued on to Antonito with the tool car and 3 cabooses, notably #0579. Built in 1885, she was beautifully rebuilt from the ground up by a valiant team of volunteers of the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec. Osier is at the mid-point of the railroad and a perfect place for a base camp. It is the site of a huge #315 poses for a night shoot at Osier On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 exdining hall where the train passengers cursion. Photo by Jerry Day are treated to a delicious lunch, with all the trimmings. A standard feature and assorted gear were loaded up tender-first out of Antonito, followed of the lunches are outrageously and hauled over to Antonito to be by OB, her flat-car, a water-tank car, sinful desserts. This is where we loaded into the old tool car. When the tool car, a flat, a gondola for set up camp for two nights. Our I arrived in Antonito, the tool car riders and three cabooses. host, Stephen Flowers and his staff, was locked and no key in sight, but graciously allowed us to stay there Antonito shop super Marvin Casias, At hangman s trestle the OB crew God bless him, was already cutting raised the boom for a photo shot. We and fed us like royalty! the lock. were not carrying that water car for its looks, At Lava, where the water tank A 2-night stay at Osier requires a little advance planning. People We all found our rooms at the old is still dry, the 315 cut off and went need a place to sleep and something Narrow gauge Inn, under very onto the loop to get in position next on which to sleep. I had a huge capable new management, and set stack of cots and sleeping bags that up a wake-up call for 4:30 AM. I purchased last year for the Fall At 5:00 AM Saturday we had a fantastic buffet breakfast at the Madness trip. Dutch Mill in Antonito. What a On Thursday afternoon, Chama treat! These people got up way Steam volunteer Bill Noe and I pulled before dawn and had a delicious the sleeping bags out of storage, and breakfast ready for us at five, PLUS loaded them into Old Red my sack lunches for everyone! ancient Ford truck. On Friday, longtime Chama Steam stalwarts Dave Just a bit after six, we blasted out of Boyer and Paul Uhland arrived to Antonito with #315 running tenderhelp with the rest of the gear. 30 cots, first. A quick runby at MP 285 set two generators, a can of gasoline, the tone for the day. It was unusual, 315 with the freight train on the Chama some propane heaters, a case of to say the least. In order to run Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Bill Noe small propane bottles, plus bungee steam to the pile-driver, 315 had to cords, ten cases of bottled water, be next to her, nose first. So 315 ran
The Colorado Time-Table - 3 Looking up at pile driver OB crossing cascade trestle on the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Bill Noe. to the tank car. The crew started the pump and gave 315 a much-needed drink after which we highballed to Big Horn Wye. The wye at Big Horn was a perfect place to drive a pile. The switching at Big Horn was complicated but done quickly, since a westbound special preseason passenger train was following close behind. We got our train on the wye, let the varnish pass, and set up the pile driver. The steam hose was connected to #315; the machinery roared and rattled, the boom went up, and a pile was attached. This was the first time the OB crew had done this, but it went like they had been doing it all of their lives. (well, almost ) Within a few minutes they had rotated the rig and actually driven a pile! took on a second-shift crew. We now had the entire railroad to ourselves. Heading into the canyon, we highballed to Osier, with a couple of runbys on the way. Stopping at Osier just long enough to unload our gear, we took the pile driver out about a mile to Cascade Trestle. Olaf led a trek down the old wagon road to the base of the trestle, for an unusual photo-op of the pile driver crossing the trestle. After setting up camp at Osier, we had an awesome night photo shoot led by the incomparable Dave Taylor. The work train was switched out and our freight train was readied for the Sunday run. Dinner at Osier is an unforgettable experience. Stephen and his staff never run out of food, and every bit of it is thoroughly delightful. At dawn on Sunday, we had a great Osier breakfast, and headed east into the sun to Toltec. It was a brilliant day. Olaf the mountain goat led one awesome runby hike to the top of Rock Tunnel. At Toltec siding, #315 ran around the train and pulled tender-first back to Osier. We turned the train, picked up our afternoon crew and headed to Los Pinos valley. At Los Pinos, despite the threatening sky, we had two of the most beautiful runbys I have seen. The patches of snow, the running water and the wind gave me a feeling that something wonderfully spiritual was happening there. I remarked later that sometimes, oncein-a-while, the Lord makes a day that is so special that you will never forget it. Back to Osier for another night in our camp, we had yet another perfect Osier dinner, another night shoot, and lights out at ten. Sunday was a bit less hectic. We planned to do nothing but take the Jay Wimer. Photo by Jerry Day. At around 2:30 we put our train back together and headed for Sublette, to get water and meet the eastbound passenger train. At Sublette, I ran into Bill Kepner, the leader of the team that rebuilt my favorite caboose #0579. He got the photo he was waiting for: #463 in the same picture as 0579. After taking on water at Sublette, we 315 at Sublette on the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Bill Noe
4 - The Colorado Time-Table DRGW engine 463 and caboose 0579 at Sublette On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jerry Day pile driver back to Antonito, leaving our freight train at Osier. We had a few really nice runbys. Since the pile driver weighs more than #315, we could not back up for runbys. We did walk ahead runbys. can adequately thank everyone for making this marvelous insanity happen! DRGW Pile driver OB driving a pile at Big Horn Wye On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jerry Day As of press time I don t have the names of all the crew members Hibl, Dave Taylor, Paul Deeter, Tom for pile driver OB, but I want to Artzberger, and Lewis Dahm. What happened on that weekend thank every one of them for a job was not just a magnificent trip. What exceedingly well done! Our crews from the Cumbres & Toltec REALLY happened was a supreme included Conductors Ed Beaudette group effort on the part of the C&TS Also I want to thank the entire and Jim Mckeel; Engineers Carlos staff, the Friends, the 315 crew, the DRHS 315 group for their help OB crew, the Osier Kitchen crew, and dedicated performance. Those the Chama Steam volunteers, and that worked this excursion: Dennis the passengers. There is no way I D Alessandro, Gene Lincoln, Dave Llamas, Jeff Stebbins, and Jose Torrez. Lucas Maez and Chris Aira were the brakemen. Thank you all for making this a wonderful experience for all of us! Photo line at cascade trestle. On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jay Wimer DRGW Engine #315 at Rock Tunnel On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jerry Day
The Colorado Time-Table - 5 I am deeply indebted to John Bush, president and GM of the C&TS, and to general-everything-else Ed Beaudette for their advice and help with the excursion. Steam Fall Madness will happen on September 27-30 for three days of absolutely unbelievable smoke, steam and scenery. Chama Steam Fall Classic Triple Header will run on October 25. For details, see the Chama Steam trips are FUN! Two Chama Steam web site at www. more Chama Steam excursions chamasteam.com or email jay@ are scheduled for this year. Chama chamasteam.com DRGW Engine #315 with Chama Steam Work extra 315 at MP 285 on the Cumbres & Toltec On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Jay Wimer DRGW Engine #315 taking water from a tank car at Lava Loop. Photo by Jay Wimer The 315 crew at MP 315 of the Cumbres & Toltec scenic railroad On the Chama Steam Work extra 315 excursion. Photo by Dave Taylor