Steam & Excursion > Is 478 going to Chama

there has been some talk about a locomotive swap between 478 and 483 is it going to happen?

If so I have good reason to go up to chama as 478 is one of my favorites.

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http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,3788186

Not officially.  But the wheels have been greased when the C&TS Comission voted to allow GM John Bush to begin the process of wheeling and dealing with the D&S on a trade.

Balance of opinion favors the swap despite the history of 483 being the power that started the C&TS.
It would take a lot of work to restore (beyond the basic 1472) and the idea of a K28 has a lot of appeal.

Out

callum_out Wrote:

> Balance of opinion favors the swap despite the
> history of 483 being the power that started the
> C&TS. It would take a lot of work to restore (beyond the
> basic 1472) and the idea of a K28 has a lot of
> appeal.

What issues does the 483 have?  Back when I was a tyke I read most of the books the Albuquerque Public Library had on the C&TS, mostly written within the first few years of the railroad's start.  They had lots of photos of the 483 doing yeoman duty moving equipment early on, and then nothing.  As I recall, Glover's historical survey described the engine as "worn out," but left it at that.  What does "worn out" mean in 483's case (beyond the basic 1472)?

Evan, here's a picture of what it looked like on 7/21, one week ago. I don't know hardly anything technical about steam, but it might give someone who does a starting point.
~wko

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The Friends have been doing some cosmetic work on the engine this season. Last year's pictures show lots of rust and peeling paint. As for internals, I don't know.

Needs a full overhaul plus replacement of parts used on other engines. It holds appeal to
the D&S because it does have a much more modern boiler than any of the K-37s plus seems
to be easier on track though some of those issues have been handled. It also will handle a
much more sizeable train than a K-28. In short, at the moment, it's worn out and missing
parts, other than that-perfect!

Out

K-37 492  in 1948  received a new firebox and 1 and 2 courses seams  that are of the K-36 design.  So in effect it is a newer boiler than 483.

I just think, as others have mentioned, that D&S feels the 36's are best for their needs and since C&TS was just going to stuff and mount the 483, might as well make a trade that eveyone will like. C&TS getting a model they don't have to show case history and still have enough 36's to handle the current schedule. But the K-27 is also holding down some daily runs, so a K-28 would make sense too for the C&TS current typical load of cars/passengers. 

At least we have active steam to enjoy in Colorado in lots of places. Vaction trip in 2 weeks, can't wait! 

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

A Sport in Chama?
I'm all for that! C&T runs all sorts of trains- it would be a great fit on the moonlight trains, photo trains, Cumbes Turns, all sorts of work for that class- nice!
SR
(My BoilingMan tag is a reference to all the good things that go on in Chama)