Fun in the snow!

[Bugbear]

Glad you had a fun time with the family, Hawk. Poor Santa...

[Taj]

Beautiful shot of 346 coming around the bend through the trees. My first job was as a clerk for the GC&SJRR. I've rode behind and on 346 & 318 many times. I even got a turn at the throttle of 346 once.

[Nighthawk]

Beautiful shot of 346 coming around the bend through the trees. My first job was as a clerk for the GC&SJRR. I've rode behind and on 346 & 318 many times. I even got a turn at the throttle of 346 once.

Really?!?! I never got to run anything. I got to ride in the 491 a couple times. Now the poor old gal is rotting in the museum... Makes me want to cry.

[mookien]

My dad helped to restore the Cumbres & Toltec back in the 60's and 70's. I was born in Las Alamos and lived in Chama for a long time. We used to have winter specials. I remember riding the C&TS when it was cold and snowy. Watching those rotary's throwing snow (what looked to me like) hundreds of feet in the air is a memory I'll never forget! And my dad will never forget firing the things... He seemed to think he was going to get himself killed if he did it very often.

Nighthawk: You're a real Los Alamos native! I was probably here beavering away at the lab when you were born. How long did you live in Lost Almost? How long in Chama? We probably have common acquaintances. Did you go to school here? My wife taught math in Cumbres Middle School on North Mesa (it's old name is Horse Mesa).

Your dad helped restore the Cumbres and Toltec Line and was a fireman on the railroad? Be sure to tell him "Congratulations!" and thank him for me. What a wonderful legacy he left behind for everyone to enjoy.

We have ridden on the train several times. As you know, it goes all the way to Antonito, but in recent years there is also a ride up to Cumbres Pass, where the passengers eat lunch, and then return to Chama. I have been in the Observation Car in the summer time and shivered in the cold. You must have anti-freeze in your veins.

If your dad hasn't heard, tell him that the Lobato trestle burned down the summer before last (2010), but they now have a new one in its place.

Cheers!

mookien

[Nighthawk]

Nighthawk: You're a real Los Alamos native! I was probably here beavering away at the lab when you were born. How long did you live in Lost Almost? How long in Chama? We probably have common acquaintances. Did you go to school here? My wife taught math in Cumbres Middle School on North Mesa (it's old name is Horse Mesa).

Your dad helped restore the Cumbres and Toltec Line and was a fireman on the railroad? Be sure to tell him "Congratulations!" and thank him for me. What a wonderful legacy he left behind for everyone to enjoy.

We have ridden on the train several times. As you know, it goes all the way to Antonito, but in recent years there is also a ride up to Cumbres Pass, where the passengers eat lunch, and then return to Chama. I have been in the Observation Car in the summer time and shivered in the cold. You must have anti-freeze in your veins.

If your dad hasn't heard, tell him that the Lobato trestle burned down the summer before last (2010), but they now have a new one in its place.

Cheers!

mookien

Actually, Mookien, I was only born in Las Alamos. It was at the time the only decent hospital in the area. My mom was a music teacher in Chama's middle/high school, which was our source of income when the train wasn't running.

So- the ride to Ozier and back is nothing particularly new. I have taken that ride (and my own lunch because the food used to be bad!) on many occasions. My mom ran the original snack/souvenier (or however you spell it!!) car on the train. I literally learned to walk riding the thing. On the Lobato trestle thing, we've been following the reconstruction for the last 18 or so months. My dad has plenty of friends who are still involved. I actually had tried to get a tartan designed and woven as a fundraiser, but couldn't afford to get it done. I wanted to make ties and waistcoats. I simply called it Chama, and based the colors off the fall colors of the mountains.

It's funny that you mention the antifreeze in my veins thing! My best friend is an Arapaho. During the winter, he bundles up in layers and parka and as much clothing as he can, looks at me in my kilt and wool sweater, and curses me for an insane Viking (I once threatened to infect his blanket with malaria, which his mom thought was hysterically funny.) Of course, during the summer, when he turns brown as I'm turning red, I curse him while he calls me Lobster Boy...

So with all that having been said, check out my dad's YouTube channel!

http://www.youtube.com/user/gothpapa...eo-mustangbase

You'll find all kinds of fun stuff there.

[theborderer]

Thanks for the Train pics, really good. There is nothing like a Steam train travelling through snowy countryside.

Great pics! In the part of Norway where I live we have no snow at all. That is quite unusual.
Skål!

Dont worry, its on its way. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!

[Nighthawk]

Great pics! In the part of Norway where I live we have no snow at all. That is quite unusual.
Skål!

As TheBorderer says... I'm sure it's coming! We're at the tail of an Arctic cold front here in Colorado. It dropped down to -7 Fehrenheit last night! For Denver, that's cold!!

[mookien]

Nighthawk: Great website! I bookmarked it. I like the current video, though it too made me feel cold. I caught a glimpse of a rotary plow (though not in action), and saw you and Jackie waving at the passengers. Nice kilt! Was your dad filming that? He's pretty good with a camera. Mine are always shaky.

I liked that short biography of your mom and dad.

Wow! You had a long ride home from the hospital, after you were born, though you probably don't remember much about it.

No wonder you're cold blooded living on that 8000' plain and in even higher mountains. Tell your Arapaho friend that his ancestors lived on the relatively balmy Great Plains, so that's why he can't take the cold.

Do you have a picture of your Chama tartan design? I would like to see it sometime.

mookien

[Chas]

Thanks, Nighthawk - I just love to see steam running.

Regards

Chas

[Mickey]

Trains in the snow are always wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing them!