It's the end of another spectacular fall day in the High Country. The evening sun shines underneath moisture-laden clouds that have bumped over the mountains of northern New Mexico, and the cottonwoods and elms and willows that line the Chama River glow with the golden colors of the season.
The air is cool and the ground damp from afternoon showers, and it's time to feed and water the ponies and put them up for the night.
And as we inhale the air tinged with a bit a coal smoke, we can't help but wonder how many times over the previous nearly 100 years has she rolled down this same track and slaked her thirst from this same water tank?
Yes, you can lead a horse to water---
But by this time she probably knows the way.
October 5th, 2022.
Goes a Watchman.
484 & 488. Chama, New Mexico. August 2023.
A Mikado slumbers at Chama.
An autumn morning at Chama.
Steam at Chama.
Rolling east down the Cumbres Creek valley early on the afternoon of October 8th, 2022.
As clouds move in over the mountains, K-36 No.488 drifts down the Cumbres Creek Valley with the eastbound San Juan on Saturday, October 8th, 2022.
October 6th, 2022, is a glorious day to be in the High Country as No.488 rolls off Cumbres Pass with the eastbound San Juan and heads for Tanglefoot Loop.
It's been a long climb up from Chama on the morning of October 6th, 2022, and K-36 No.488 stops to slake her thirst as railfans gather for the obligatory photographs atop Cumbres Pass.
K-36 No.488 arrives atop Cumbres Pass with the eastbound San Juan on October 6th, 2022.
Smoke at Coxo.
It's the Saturday morning of October 8th, 2022, and the high country aspens are in full color as 484 and 488 charge the eastbound San Juan through Coxo, Colorado and up the 4% grade to Cumbres Pass.
Of steam and steel.
Max Casias moves the 484 off the ashpit at Chama.
The Valley of Light and Shadow.
Skirting massive rainstorms to the south, K-36 No.488 rolls the eastbound San Juan out into the San Luis Valley near the end of its run to Antonito, Colorado late on the afternoon of October 8th, 2022.
Only the hearty will know the rain at Cumbres.
The others will scurry quick from the gondola back to their plush Pullman seats.
August 2022.
Morning washdown at Chama. Saturday, October 8th, 2022.
It's the beautiful fall Saturday morning of October 8th, 2022, and there's a double header running east out of Chama! Adhering to the weight restrictions, the train has stopped to allow the 484 to run light across Lobato trestle.
K-36 No.488 rolls the eastbound San Juan across the small trestle at Cresco, Colorado on the morning of October 6th, 2022.
The smile says it all---
While fireman Dylan Hutson fills the tender tank, engineer Harry Haas oils around K-36 No.488 during a brief stop on Cumbres Pass. October 6th, 2022.
With storm clouds rolling in over Cumbres Pass, 488 rolls the eastbound San Juan down off Tanglefoot Curve on its way to a lunch stop at Osier. October 6th, 2022.
The Balance of Power.
As freshly painted Flanger OK stands ready to do battle with the upcoming winter snows, K-36 No.489 rolls into Chama, New Mexico with Tuscan Red Tourist Pullmans from Antonito on October 5th, 2022.
With timetable and operating rules tucked into his breast pocket, and Tuscan Red Tourist Pullmans on the drawbar, engineer Dylan Hutson rolls the eastbound San Juan around the curve just out of Cumbres station on Saturday, October 8th, 2022.
It is comforting for a lone pilgrim journeying throughout the great 'holy' sites of the American West, to make the acquaintance of likeminded souls on their own pilgrimage.
Here is The Frisco Gang.
As the nickname implies, they are great fans of the SLSF and quite well-versed in all things Frisco, from the 1500s to the 4300s and everything in between Missouri and Texas. They welcomed this Texan into their group without hesitation and with great hospitality. Many thanks, guys! I had a blast!
From left to right: Bill Heiss, Nathan Heiss, Paul Brand, Karl Brand, and Jeff Cooney stand on the rear platform of D&RGW narrow gauge caboose 05635 in Chama, New Mexico; their chartered accommodation for the ride to Antonito on Saturday, October 8th, 2022.
Let's do this again next year!
Sun and shadow and steam.
With Cumbres Pass and the curves of Tanglefoot Loop behind her, the safety valve on K-36 No.488 lifts at 195lbs as she rolls Tuscan Red Tourist Pullmans eastbound through the Cumbres Creek valley near milepost 329 on the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge.
October 8th, 2022.
Morning Mudhen ready for departure at Antonito, Colorado.
