Steam & Excursion > C&TSRR = Fire At Osier Dining Hall

C&TSRR = Fire At Osier Dining HallCleanup and restoration is already underway. Valley Courier Alamosa NewsBy: Keith R. Cerny - Updated: 2 hours agoPosted Sep 23, 2021Sprinkler system may have saved further damageOSIER– Extensive damage has been reported to the kitchen area of the Osier train station for the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, according to Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther.Multiple Conejos County and state fire personnel along with the sheriff’s department responded at about 8:45 a.m. Thursday. Upon arrival deputies found that a fire had started most likely from a light fixture in the baking area of the kitchen.The fire was extinguished by a sprinkler system within the building, but not before extensive damage was done to the room and equipment.No one was in the building during the fire and no injuries were reported, Crowther said.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

Recent news indicate they expect to have it cleaned up by Saturday in order to handle over 550 passenger who had  purchased tickets at the peak of the color for this fall.  Sure great no one got hurt and the sprinkler system worked. 

This is why you install fire sprinkler systems. That and the fact that the insurance company won't issue you a policy if you don't...

PlyWoody Wrote:
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> Recent news indicate they expect to have it
> cleaned up by Saturday in order to handle over 550
> passenger who had  purchased tickets at the peak
> of the color for this fall.  Sure great no one
> got hurt and the sprinkler system worked.

My guess is the railroad will be ready.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

PHall Wrote:
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> This is why you install fire sprinkler systems.
> That and the fact that the insurance company won't
> issue you a policy if you don't...

You are right they are important.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

Roger, did they finally run line power to Osier?

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> Roger, did they finally run line power to Osier?
>
> Out 

No, they are still using a generator.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

At this time of year they probably run it 24/7. When on a Chama Steam trip after the end of the season several years ago we overnighted in the dining hall on cots and sleeping bags. Steven told us the power we be shut off about 10:00 and restarted about 5:00.

Link to a photograph:
https://alamosanews.com/uploads/images/2021/09/57b1763ceb7259912e12e52918bb3298.jpg

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> At this time of year they probably run it 24/7.
> When on a Chama Steam trip after the end of the
> season several years ago we overnighted in the
> dining hall on cots and sleeping bags. Steven told
> us the power we be shut off about 10:00 and
> restarted about 5:00.

I think they stay on the same schedule.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> Link to a photograph:
> https://alamosanews.com/uploads/images/2021/09/57b
> 1763ceb7259912e12e52918bb3298.jpg

Not a pretty sight.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

What can be learned from this new fire?  How much would it cost to build an emergency kitchen within one box car or have a second with cold storage of food.  Could there be a set of picnic tables set up on the east side of the Osier loop with rest facilities,  Could they build a pavilion with tables on the tail of the wye at Big Horn also with rest facilities?  And can they use the facilities at Cumbres wye trail to serve lunch meals when something happens at Osier?  Can they lay an internal pipe under water in the Los Pinos creek below Osier to generate power during the summer? Or add solar panels to back side of the roof. 

Another idea to add to the experience of riding the C&TS train would be to build a wooden 2 person wide stairway at the closest spot of the neck of Tanglefoot Curve as a photo stop for camera fans, sold as a extra expense for only the number of tickets as there are steps.  For example if there were 25 steps, the photographers could get off at a very short platform and walk up or down to one step to get the photo of the train going and coming and then they walk to the platform to get back on the train.  Only one stairway  would be used on the train and on the same side.  Photographer would be restricted to only use one step and not leave the stairway.  The stairway would have a 1" green pipe hand rail that is not too obvious in distant views.  The Trains to Osier never have had a photo-run as too time consuming, but this could give the railway a little extra income with a couple dollar charge for the limited number.  It could be sold for both directions and the delay for other passenger would only be about 4 minutes for each stop to unload or reload the limited number of photo fans. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/21 04:59 by PlyWoody.

PlyWoody Wrote:
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> What can be learned from this new fire?  How much
> would it cost to build an emergency kitchen within
> one box car or have a second with cold storage of
> food.  Could there be a set of picnic tables set
> up on the east side of the Osier loop with rest
> facilities,  Could they build a pavilion with
> tables on the tail of the wye at Big Horn also
> with rest facilities?  And can they use the
> facilities at Cumbres wye trail to serve lunch
> meals when something happens at Osier?  Can they
> lay an internal pipe under water in the Los Pinos
> creek below Osier to generate power during the
> summer? Or add solar panels to back side of
> the roof. 
>
> Another idea to add to the experience of riding
> the C&TS train would be to build a wooden 2 person
> wide stairway at the closest spot of the neck of
> Tanglefoot Curve as a photo stop for camera fans,
> sold as a extra expense for only the number of
> tickets as there are steps.  For example if there
> were 25 steps, the photographers could get off at
> a very short platform and walk up or down to one
> step to get the photo of the train going and
> coming and then they walk to the platform to get
> back on the train.  Only one stairway  would be
> used on the train and on the same side. 
> Photographer would be restricted to only use one
> step and not leave the stairway.  The stairway
> would have a 1" green pipe hand rail that is not
> too obvious in distant views.  The Trains to
> Osier never have had a photo-run as too time
> consuming, but this could give the railway a
> little extra income with a couple dollar charge
> for the limited number.  It could be sold for
> both directions and the delay for other passenger
> would only be about 4 minutes for each stop to
> unload or reload the limited number of photo
> fans.

It seems to me these ideas would work. All it would take is a lot of money. 

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

Yes, and you can lose a lot of money at the best time of season if you have to cancel trips and turn passenger away.  Looks like they were very quick with a good looking replacement.  Sure are some nice looking tents and a new adventure for some folks.  Hope all enjoyed a memorable trip regardless. The east side of the loop could be a out of sight location for emergencies eating spot.  The end tail of the Big Horn wye is also out of sight of normal travel.

PlyWoody Wrote:
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> Yes, and you can lose a lot of money at the best
> time of season if you have to cancel trips and
> turn passenger away.  Looks like they were very
> quick with a good looking replacement.  Sure are
> some nice looking tents and a new adventure for
> some folks.  Hope all enjoyed a memorable trip
> regardless. The east side of the loop could be a
> out of sight location for emergencies eating
> spot.  The end tail of the Big Horn wye is also
> out of sight of normal travel.

So far no trips canceled and no passengers turned away. IMHO the C&TSRR has done a good job with this problem.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

Smokey an authetintic experience all around

dan Wrote:
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> Smokey an authetintic experience all around

My understanding is there was a lot of smoke.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff