Steam & Excursion > Stalled! C&TSRR on Cumbres Pass

As has been well documented here on TO, Saturday was opening day for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, we were fortunate enough to be in the area and were onboard for the first trip of the year.  Just beyond the Lobato trestle, the two locomotives began to slow with the train, as we headed into a right hand curve, the 487 lost its grip on the rusty rails.  Both engines began slipping until we had come to a stop.  After stalling out, the two engineers are able to work in unison to move the train up the 4% grade towards Cumbres Pass, Enjoy!

Belt Line Productions
Tehachapi-TJ Over & Out.

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OMG! That's great video, Roger! Those crews know
what they're doing :-)

John.

You combine a steep grade just after Labato trestle and a very sharp u shaped bend, stalling is going to happen if the track and engines are not in synch as they pull it.

Sharon Evans
Glen Allen, VA

Wow!!!  That is a great video!!  Kudos to the crew for getting
the train over that grade!  Nice job, guys!

And that is some beautiful mountain scenery you got.  Thank you!

jkh2cpu Wrote:
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> OMG! That's great video, Roger! Those crews
> know
> what they're doing :-)
>
> John.

I'm not Roger...  He was not the only person out for the opening day, and this was from onboard.

Tehachapi-TJ Over & Out

Both Tehachapi Dave and Roger's videos show a lot of operations with the safeties lifted.

At least it wasn't caterpillars all over the tracks.

There is a steep spot going through that cut that drags down just about every train somewhat.  That plus rail that has not had a chance to get last winter's rust knocked off of it create the "perfect storm". 

Steep spot and a curve.

Out

Sanders?  Didn't really see any sand dropping.  Fresh rust can be a pain.
 

Very cool. It pays to be in the right spot at the right time, with a camera.

Jason Rose
Spring, TX
Rio Grande Explorations

Plus, you won't get a shot back there except on the train, locals are very set against such things.

Out



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/16 14:29 by callum_out.

MarkMeoff Wrote:
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> At least it wasn't caterpillars all over the
> tracks.
Give it about three or four weeks!

If you look at Wacky Roger's video's we are on the front platform on the first car to get the most sound and not as many cinders.  

I had business meetings in Santa Fe last week and it was only natural to come to Chama for opening day, somethings you get lucky.

TJ, Dave and Phoebe

Should be video of the day - can't wait to get back up there later in June.

At and above Lobato Trestle, C&TS runs through land used as a high-roller ranch-type resort,  re-fenced and amply posted after a railfan trespassed, hurt himself and sued.
Trackside visitors are NOT WELCOME! 
As shown, parallel NM 17 is far off and across a creek/ravine, so onboard pics and vids here are  all you got.

Hope those "hoggers" aren't getting paid by the mile!   Almost had to "double the hill".