Great video. Thanks for assembling and editing it. I particularly enjoyed the perfectly synced audio with the drone shots. I know how challenging it can be to do that. Nice history lesson. Thanks to Earl and you.
Chama has oil storage now too. You can expect to see more oil conversions in the future. Oil firing is a whole different animal from coal and it's taking crews time to get used to it.
Engine 489 is my favorite engine on the Cumbres and Toltec, but I was shocked to realize that it became an oil burner, but I do understand why they decided to do that.
Huh, didn't know 489 was pulled from service in 2019 for a rebuild, and it seems like now that 489 is oil fired it'll be rare to see it in chama new Mexico now.
at 14:45, you talked about problems facing 484. was this a historical notation or are their problems with her now? I know she gets used out of Chama almost more than any other engine. 484 has a special place in my heart, being the lead on my first ride of the C&T years ago. Is she ok?
Per the C&TSR website: The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is known for its extensive collection of rolling stock which can be viewed at both our Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado rail yards. Check out our five operating coal fired, steam operated, narrow gauge locomotives - #484, 487, 488, 489, and 463. Locomotive #489 joined the line in 2008 after an extensive recondition. Locomotive #483 is on display at the Chama station but is not in operation. Locomotive #463 returned to operation in 2013. 497 is also displayed in Chama but not operable. I'm going to Chama tomorrow so I'll check things out.
Did you see the history was made by Earl Noob I know him for briefly running 2248 in the late 1990s he now resides working for the Texas State Railroad in East Texas and favorably would run Texas and Pacific 316 I slightly newer relative of 2248 having been built at the turn of the century in 1901 by the cook locomotive works 2248 being a mere 8 years older being built by the cook locomotive works in 1896 both locomotives are the oldest 10 wheeler locomotives by their respective railroads
Another question, you said they only had oil in Antonito ? How did it get back on one tank of oil. Thanks 🙏 I forgot to thank you for history of 489. By the way it was a great video of my trip I took on 9-30-21, again, Thanks 🙏
@@YardLimit Yes, it was awesome it was the train I rode. Never forget my trip. I plan to go again next year. What is the best time of year to go again, that you might see a double header. Thanks Keep them coming, and your narration is prefect, love to listen to your voice. Great job. Thanks again 🙏
I am sad 😢, you had to convert this engine to oil. I rode it, 489, out of Chama last 30 September this year, 2021, and the tracks were wet and it did not have enough steam to get up the grade. It had to stop 3 times to build up steam to get going. I think oil is not a way to go. Fuel oil does not work to well on a cold morning and a wet tracks. I prefer not to ride this engine again. We were 1 hour late getting to Osier. I was not happy going though this. Oil burner on the Chama side not a good idea, it just does not have the power a coal train does. Wasted an hour total, waiting for it to build up steam,no power. It was only pulling 8 cars total and just could not make it up the grade. It keep slipping, it just could not pull 8 cars up the grade. Please don’t convert any more of these engines to oil. The engineer I talked to said, this engine leaked fuel onto tracks and started 3 fires 🔥 this summer, coal trains had no problem all year he told me. Don’t make the same mistake Durango is making and convert these trains to oil. Leave these coal trains along. Rebuild them to coal. I love trains and don’t want to see them converted over. I think. C&T RR, should thing this over before you convert anymore engines. C&T has the best RR in the United States, please don’t convert anymore to fuel oil. Thanks 🙏. Comments please, what do you think?
Actually, depending on what fuel mixture you are using in an Oil burning locomotive, oil can produce just as much if not more heat than coal. When the C&TS converted the 489 they completed a static load test on the engine and the engine was able to maintain pressure while firing against a tremendous steam load. There are so many factors that can lead to an engine underperforming and having to stop and build up pressure. Wet conditions cause problems for all trains, not just oil fired steam locomotives on a tourist railroad. A K-36 is limited to 7-8 passenger cars on the grade out of Chama as that is all they can handle by themselves, regardless of fuel source. Based on the information you were told by an engineer, it sounds as if the 489 has not been properly set up for oil firing or the crew firing the engine do not have enough training with that engine on that end of the railroad. Given the 489 has only been to Chama a few times since its conversion, this could be the issue entirely. All 3 of the engines on the D&SNG haven't really had issues where the engine had to stop and build steam pressure. And their fleet of oil burners have run pretty much all summer long non-stop. I love coal fired steam locomotives just as much as anyone else, and I have been lucky to work on a few coal fired engines myself. However, from a business and operational standpoint I can understand why these railroads have made the decisions they did. Not to mention that as time goes on the availability of good quality coal (like what come from the King Coal mine in Hesperus CO) may become harder to obtain as various mines shut down or run out of land to mine.
@@cwhuffman01 Thanks so far that. I needed to hear how things are , did not realize all the conditions it takes to run a railroad, thanks again for taking your time to talk to me about trains 🚂, I just love the one I just riding in September. Thanks again 🙏🙏
Great video. Thanks for assembling and editing it. I particularly enjoyed the perfectly synced audio with the drone shots. I know how challenging it can be to do that. Nice history lesson. Thanks to Earl and you.
Thank you for the kind words and noticing the audio. This one was a lot of fun to do!
@@YardLimit What equipment are you recording your audio with?
@@Thomas_Kneib Panasonic HC-VX981 camcorder with an external mic and dead cat.
Something about these old rigs is just so awesome to see
Never gets old!
Chama has oil storage now too. You can expect to see more oil conversions in the future. Oil firing is a whole different animal from coal and it's taking crews time to get used to it.
Thank you for the info!
Sounds like 489 got her 6 chime back! And thanks to her oil conversion, it appears she now holds the title for world's cleanest K-36.
She sure is pretty. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
That was awesome, thanks for sharing the history and gorgeous shot at 20:17 and 23:28👍
Thanks Dom. I was hoping to drone that spot but it started raining.
Engine 489 is my favorite engine on the Cumbres and Toltec, but I was shocked to realize that it became an oil burner, but I do understand why they decided to do that.
It smells different but otherwise you can't really tell.
Amazing video love the history. We are coming from NJ to ride in 1 week. Cant wait!!
I'm going to be there next Friday and Saturday so wave at me!
Very nice video of the train moving through the vastness of the landscape and the sound of the steam locomotive repeating.🎥👍👍👍😍
Thank you very much!
Awesome video Tom
Thanks!
Huh, didn't know 489 was pulled from service in 2019 for a rebuild, and it seems like now that 489 is oil fired it'll be rare to see it in chama new Mexico now.
They have a tank car in Chama with oil so it can be refueled there. I do think it will end up going back and forth between Chama and Antonito.
Yep probably will like the other engines.
Really nice video, Tom!
Thank you, Mark!
Amazing video thank you, I was on this train this day amazing trip coming back.
Glad I was able to catch it!
Szép videó lett!😀👍
Thank you!
@@YardLimit 😊👍
at 14:45, you talked about problems facing 484. was this a historical notation or are their problems with her now? I know she gets used out of Chama almost more than any other engine. 484 has a special place in my heart, being the lead on my first ride of the C&T years ago. Is she ok?
Per the C&TSR website: The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is known for its extensive collection of rolling stock which can be viewed at both our Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado rail yards. Check out our five operating coal fired, steam operated, narrow gauge locomotives - #484, 487, 488, 489, and 463. Locomotive #489 joined the line in 2008 after an extensive recondition. Locomotive #483 is on display at the Chama station but is not in operation. Locomotive #463 returned to operation in 2013.
497 is also displayed in Chama but not operable. I'm going to Chama tomorrow so I'll check things out.
484 led the train into Chama today.
484 is running fine And 487 also has been running 488 was having some work being done but has returned
more videos like this. maybe do a history of 488, 484, 463 and 487?👏👏
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. History is important and this one was fun to do!
Did you see the history was made by Earl Noob I know him for briefly running 2248 in the late 1990s he now resides working for the Texas State Railroad in East Texas and favorably would run Texas and Pacific 316 I slightly newer relative of 2248 having been built at the turn of the century in 1901 by the cook locomotive works 2248 being a mere 8 years older being built by the cook locomotive works in 1896 both locomotives are the oldest 10 wheeler locomotives by their respective railroads
OK!
He gave me a cab ride on SLRG 18 in 2011. He remembers the narrow rails still shine from 1987. Happy 35th
Another question, you said they only had oil in Antonito ? How did it get back on one tank of oil. Thanks 🙏
I forgot to thank you for history of 489. By the way it was a great video of my trip I took on 9-30-21, again, Thanks 🙏
C&T either had a tank car filled with oil in Chama or brought one from Antonito. I'm glad it turned out that I videoed your train!
@@YardLimit
Yes, it was awesome it was the train I rode. Never forget my trip. I plan to go again next year. What is the best time of year to go again, that you might see a double header. Thanks Keep them coming, and your narration is prefect, love to listen to your voice. Great job. Thanks again 🙏
I am sad 😢, you had to convert this engine to oil. I rode it, 489, out of Chama last 30 September this year, 2021, and the tracks were wet and it did not have enough steam to get up the grade. It had to stop 3 times to build up steam to get going. I think oil is not a way to go. Fuel oil does not work to well on a cold morning and a wet tracks. I prefer not to ride this engine again. We were 1 hour late getting to Osier. I was not happy going though this. Oil burner on the Chama side not a good idea, it just does not have the power a coal train does. Wasted an hour total, waiting for it to build up steam,no power. It was only pulling 8 cars total and just could not make it up the grade. It keep slipping, it just could not pull 8 cars up the grade. Please don’t convert any more of these engines to oil. The engineer I talked to said, this engine leaked fuel onto tracks and started 3 fires 🔥 this summer, coal trains had no problem all year he told me. Don’t make the same mistake Durango is making and convert these trains to oil. Leave these coal trains along. Rebuild them to coal. I love trains and don’t want to see them converted over. I think. C&T RR, should thing this over before you convert anymore engines. C&T has the best RR in the United States, please don’t convert anymore to fuel oil. Thanks 🙏. Comments please, what do you think?
It was actually the train that you were on that I was shooting. Anyone else have an opinion about oil?
@@HematomaFalafalPatrol
Yes, I agree, but I prefer coal over oil, coal has more BTU’s and it weights heavier too. Thanks for your comment 🙏🙏🙏
Actually, depending on what fuel mixture you are using in an Oil burning locomotive, oil can produce just as much if not more heat than coal. When the C&TS converted the 489 they completed a static load test on the engine and the engine was able to maintain pressure while firing against a tremendous steam load. There are so many factors that can lead to an engine underperforming and having to stop and build up pressure. Wet conditions cause problems for all trains, not just oil fired steam locomotives on a tourist railroad. A K-36 is limited to 7-8 passenger cars on the grade out of Chama as that is all they can handle by themselves, regardless of fuel source. Based on the information you were told by an engineer, it sounds as if the 489 has not been properly set up for oil firing or the crew firing the engine do not have enough training with that engine on that end of the railroad. Given the 489 has only been to Chama a few times since its conversion, this could be the issue entirely. All 3 of the engines on the D&SNG haven't really had issues where the engine had to stop and build steam pressure. And their fleet of oil burners have run pretty much all summer long non-stop. I love coal fired steam locomotives just as much as anyone else, and I have been lucky to work on a few coal fired engines myself. However, from a business and operational standpoint I can understand why these railroads have made the decisions they did. Not to mention that as time goes on the availability of good quality coal (like what come from the King Coal mine in Hesperus CO) may become harder to obtain as various mines shut down or run out of land to mine.
@@cwhuffman01
Thanks so far that. I needed to hear how things are , did not realize all the conditions it takes to run a railroad, thanks again for taking your time to talk to me about trains 🚂, I just love the one I just riding in September. Thanks again 🙏🙏
I totally agree. If they convert more to oil I WILL NOT make my yearly trip to ride this rail road. I will stop.