Steam & Excursion > Week-long September C&TS Trip, Day 6: Busy in Antonito

Day 1: Antonito Arrival / Day 2: Chili Line Charter / Day 3: Working in Chama / Day 4: EB Surprise - Day 4: SLRG / Day 5: Ride to Toltec

Sorry about the delay in posting, Friday and Saturday were busy, and to be perfectly honest, I forgot about the series.

Friday, September 28, was the last day of work session G, but since 463 and the rest of the charter train came in on Thursday, the 4 of us working on prepping the charter had our work cut out for us. Our first order of business was to put a handrail on the front of 463, stretching from below the numberboards and headlight down close to the walkway.

TO member drgw0579 and I got set to work on that and some minor changes to the front of the locomotive, while Don and John were working on making the cosmetic changes to the tender of 463, all in an effort to change the appearance to 453.

Photo 1:
While we were doing this, John Bush and Stathi Pappas arrived with "453" numberboards, smokebox plate, and a sticker. Here, Mr. Bush applies the sticker, which was larger than the plate just in case that wasn't big enough. The handrail Bill and I made can be seen right above Stathi's head.

Photo 2:
A front roster once we finished our work on the front. The other two continued their work on the engineer's side, making them out of view.

Photo 3:
A rear roster shortly after. The pile of stuff on the far right is an indicator that work was still going on.

Still busy, but a well-needed break shall come.
~wko

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Every day of the week, the work session had a little something "extra" for those working, like the slideshow on Wednesday (Day 3), a BBQ lunch on Thursday, and Friday's treat, a tour of the 168 rebuild and the historic car fleet.

Photo 4:
Here's a view looking into the shop from outside.

Photo 5:
Standing near the front, we're looking back towards where the cab will be.

Photo 6:
Standing near where the cab will be, we're looking forward towards the front.

Lots of info was given!
~wko

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Photo 7:
A view of the front of the locomotive.

Photo 8:
A view of where the cab will sit.

Photo 9:
A look at the new tender. The old tender is sitting outside on the south end of the property.

A lot of good info was given; some good stories of what they've found while doing the restoration, some info about techniques new and old that have been applied during this, and they're still optimistic the locomotive will officially be ready to go by fall of 2019 (barring any setbacks). The project has reached almost 100% of their financial goal AND is ahead of schedule, some great things going on in Antonito!

Like cars.
~wko

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Most of the members of the work session had visited the historic car fleet building before going to see 168, but since Bill and I were working on turning 463 into 453, we didn't get that opportunity before, so we went afterwards.

Photo 10:
A look at the next historic coach being built, I believe 256.

Photo 11:
The new cab of 168 is completed -  just waiting for paint and installation. It's being kept here, as it's out of the way and out of the elements.

Photo 12:
Another RPO is progressing along nicely.

Back outside we go!
~wko

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Photo 13:
When we were back at the CRF for some stuff we needed for the train itself, the SLRG came into town with 4141 leading again. Since I had my camera readily accessible as it was, a quick photo was in order.

Photo 14:
Not long after, the eastbound passenger train arrived. Here, it's making its way around the loop track. The historic car fleet is being worked on in the "bubble" on the far right behind the train.

Photo 15:
After all our work was done, we went over to get the SLRG departing for Alamosa, but once they finished their switching, the crew tied the train down, hopped in a pickup, and disappeared. Here the train sits just south of the wye and the depot.

Sorry for the non-steam, let's go back to steam!
~wko

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After the sun went down, participants of the charter were invited to the Antonito enginehouse for a night photoshoot, featuring 453 and the 1907 Model T from earlier in the week. Since we helped get everything ready during the week, we were invited as well.

Photo 16:
From left to right, 453, the Model T, 484, and C&TS #19

Photo 17:
A more head-on view of the steamers and the vehicle.

Photo 18:
The Model T has departed for the evening, allowing for some shots of just the locomotives. The wind coming straight out of the west made for some nice smoke trailings!

That would wrap it up for the weekdays, the next 3 days would feature nice charters, and will be the subject of the next, and final, post of the week.

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed!
~wko

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wko Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Photo 7:
> A view of the front of the locomotive.
>
> Photo 8:
> A view of where the cab will sit.
>
> Photo 9:
> A look at the new tender. The old tender is
> sitting outside on the south end of the property.
>
> A lot of good info was given; some good stories of
> what they've found while doing the restoration,
> some info about techniques new and old that have
> been applied during this, and they're still
> optimistic the locomotive will officially be ready
> to go by fall of 2019 (barring any setbacks). The
> project has reached almost 100% of their financial
> goal AND is ahead of schedule, some great things
> going on in Antonito!
>
> Like cars.
> ~wko

Interesting that the throttle appears to be upright?

I totally missed these two months ago - thank you for posting them. Really impressive work that group (dint realize Stathi was there) is doing! B