C&TS K-36 #488 climbing Cumbres Pass Summer 1996
This is a video shot in the Summer of 1996 of Cumbres and Toltec K-36 #488 from The Narrows to the 2nd Highway Crossing. The engine has some kind of problem and has to stop in The Narrows while the shop comes out and attempts to fix the problem. They get underway again but it is clear that the Fireman is having difficulty keeping steam up as he is shoveling an inordinate amount of coal. I think the Engineer is Tom Atkinson...
C&TSR 488 Rebuilt!
Cumbres & Toltec 488 emerged from the shop on August 11, 2022 looking fresh with a new smokebox, smokebox front, master mechanic front end to replace the cyclone front end, arch tubes, rebuilt pilot, original style injector control valves, classification lamps, replacement of the cab windows, installation of an original style whistle, and had a steam dome flange straightened.
488 also got a new bell ringer.
The engine was painted by sister railroad Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad with a high-performance paint and lettering completed by the Akin Brothers. The finished product fits within the Commission’s plan for the K-36 to have appearances from different time periods in their history. The 488 represents the appearance of the locomotive as newly delivered by the Baldwin Locomotive works to the D&RGW in 1925.
Kudos to Chase Bond, Dylan Hutson, Cody Akin, Casey Akin, Austin Goodwin for time well spent over the previous winter! We were very happy to be on hand for its first run since the rebuild!
Cumbres & Toltec Double Header @ New Mexico Highway 17
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad K-36 steam locomotives nos. 484 and 488 eastbound double header special crosses New Mexico State Highway 17 climbing the 4% grade between mileposts 338 and 337 with 9-car train just south of Colorado state line. Locomotive No. 484 will be cut from the train at the summit of Cumbres Pass to power a freight special to Antonito, CO running ahead of the regular passenger train. Saturday, June 19, 2010.
Cumbres & Toltec crossing Highway 17
C&TSR 488 Los Pinos to Coxo
On August 27, 2023, we catch Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad 488 returning to Chama on a rainy afternoon. We catch it crossing the Los Pinos bridge and then at the Apache Crossing. As it arrives at Cumbres Pass, we catch it crossing Highway 17 and then at the Coxo Crossing at Highway 17.
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C&TS 488 Arriving at Osier on 7-21-09
C&TS K-36 488 arriving at Osier, Colorado from Antonito, Colorado for the lunch stop. Please excuse the burp in the beginning and the bad wind in the audio.
Cumbres Toltec 488 at Apache Crossing
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad locomotive 488 at Apache Crossing
Part III Firing and Running K-36 #489 from Chama to Cumbres on the C&TS Summer, 1996
This is a video I shot Thursday Aug. 8, 1996 when I worked as a fireman for the C&TS RR. We are on the helper of a double header. Earl Knoob is the engineer in the video that starts in the Chama yard and ends at Cumbres Pass. This trip is what a normal trip looked like for a double header. Nothing unusual happened (which seemed unusual).
I'm firing two different patterns: One pattern is a scoop in each of the corners and then a scoop under the door. The second pattern is one scoop for each side and a final one bounced off the door to spread it evenly over the grates. When necessary additional scoops were added to the pattern.
The K-36's liked their coal in a heel at the rear so you will see me add more there from time to time. You also see me working the injector and using the squirt hose to fine it down at first. Once we enter the 4% grade the injector goes to wide open and I'll begin to add more coal than before. You can also see the fire is getting hotter as the locomotive begins to work harder. Part III starts at Lobato and includes running light across the trestle and coupling up to the train again. The road fireman cuts us off and I leave the cab to hook us back up again once we cross the trestle. Part III ends at about MP 338.
Unfortunately the camera was not in its wide angle mode for the beginning of the video so the view is a little limited.
Cumbres and Toltec K-36 484 Crosses State Road 17 near Dalton, NM
Part V Firing and Running K-36 #489 from Chama to Cumbres on the C&TS Summer, 1996
This is a video I shot Thursday Aug. 8, 1996 when I worked as a fireman for the C&TS RR. We are on the helper of a double header. Earl Knoob is the engineer in the video that starts in the Chama yard and ends at Cumbres Pass. This trip is what a normal trip looked like for a double header. Nothing unusual happened (which seemed unusual).
Running the engine is less physically taxing than firing. The throttle is essentially wide open and the reverse lever is hooked up to maintain a speed of about 12 mph. I have my hand on the sanding valve as a small squirt of sand usually will stop a slip (especially on a dry, sunny day such as this one).
Part V starts just above MP 336 (below Cresco) and ends just below the Coxo highway crossing (MP 333).
C&TS RR July 28,& 29, 1997 Double Headers
These are videos I shot while working for the C&TS during the summer of 1997. The first is a double header of K-36 #488 & 487 in a light rain leaving Chama at the Chama river bridge. The first video ends at Lobato when the rain began to intensify.
The second video is a double header of K-37 #497 and K-36 #488 from the 1st highway crossing out of Chama to the top of Cumbres Pass on a cloudy morning. In both videos you can see and hear #488 has a leaking piston packing.
CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD - K36 #484 at Dalton Crossing.
K36 #484 working hard as she approaches and passes the crossing at Dolton on the climb out of Chama, NM, to Cumbres, Co.
Cumbres & Toltec - #489 at Coxo Crossing
Denver and Rio Grande Western K-36 #489 built in 1925 at the Baldwin Locomotive Works features in this short clip. #489 first passes Coxo phone booth and then cross Hwy. 17 at the third crossing on the climb from Chama, NM to Cumbres, CO.
484 and 488 Doubleheading from Chama
D&RGW K-36s 484 and 488 doublehead from Chama to Cumbres on June 19, 2010.
488 - Going & Coming
At the S curves North of the 2nd crossing on highway 17.
C&TS RR #488 Chama-Los Pinos Aug. 19, 1988 Part I
This is a video I shot in late August of 1988 of a run between Chama to Cumbres Pass. Part I runs from the Chama River Bridge to Cresco where the locomotive takes water. Earl Knoob is the engineer on what appears to be a tonnage train as the engine looses its feet several times during the run up to Cumbres.
Part II Firing and Running K-36 #489 from Chama to Cumbres on the C&TS Summer, 1996
This is a video I shot during the summer of 1996 when I worked as a fireman for the C&TS RR. We are on the helper of a double header. Earl Knoob is the engineer in the video that starts in the Chama yard and ends at Cumbres Pass. This trip is what a normal trip looked like for a double header. Nothing unusual happened (which seemed unusual).
I'm firing two different patterns: One pattern is a scoop in each of the corners and then a scoop under the door. The second pattern is one scoop for each side and a final one bounced off the door to spread it evenly over the grates. When necessary additional scoops were added to the pattern.
The K-36's liked their coal in a heel at the rear so you will see me add more there from time to time. You also see me working the injector and using the squirt hose to fine it down at first. Once we enter the 4% grade the injector goes to wide open and I'll begin to add more coal than before. You can also see the fire is getting hotter as the locomotive begins to work harder.
Part II starts at about MP 341 in what is called the Narrows and ends at Lobato where we get cut off to run across the trestle light.
Unfortunately the camera was not in its wide angle mode for the beginning of the video so the view is a little limited.
488 Leaving Chama. Part 1
C&TS engine #488 departs the Chama depot then makes a quick stop to top off the tender with water.
08-08-12 MP 343 C&TSRR Loco 488
Another mile post video, this time just inside the Chama yard limit sign.