Snow Fighting to Colorado

Near the Colorado state line the Rotary OY is in full battle with snow with 2-8-2 #487 and #484 pushing.

Cumbres & Toltec Rotary snowplow OY is leaving “the Narrows” and approaches Lobato, New Mexico as it heads upgrade on Cumbres Pass on February 29, 2020.

Steamscape: Orgasm Curve. With the snow-pack slowly deepening, the Cumbres & Toltec Rotary Outfit winds its way through the complex S-curve at Milepost 336.2 that has, in the past half cent... (more)

Approaching the S-Curves. The crew on Rotary OY has the safeties popping as the plow train continues the trek east toward Cumbres Pass, seen here approaching the S-Curves at MP 337.

Ro... (more)

Heading for the high country. Approaching 9,000 ft. MSL and with nearly 7 miles still left to go to make Cumbres Pass, the Cumbres & Toltec's Rotary Outfit is still making steady progress t... (more)

Shadow Dance. Plume shadows dance in the wind on a soft, snowy carpet as the the Cumbres & Toltec's Rotary Outfit approaches the second Highway 17 crossing, not far from the Colorado State ... (more)

Easin' on the brakes. With a deft touch on the brake handle, long-time Cumbres & Toltec Engineer Ronnie Lopez does his part to bring the Rotary Outfit to a brief, but important stop at Dalt... (more)

The Rotary Train has exited the Narrows and is approaching the trestle across Wolf Creek.

The Rotary Train has exited the Narrows and is approaching the trestle across Wolf Creek.

Anatomy of a Rotary. High above Highway 17, and just north of Lobo Lodge, the Cumbres & Toltec's Rotary Snow Plow OY continues to slice through the snow-pack as she clears the line from Cha... (more)

Rotary train rounds the curves above Lobato Trestle.

Lake Lobato: The climb begins in earnest. The Cumbres & Toltec Rotary Outfit takes the turn at Lake Lobato as it emerges from The Narrows and digs into the 4% grade that culminates at Cumbr... (more)

Cumbres & Toltec 487 is putting on an awesome display of smoke. She is working up Cumbres Pass just West of Lobato.

Almost home.... With their coal bunker all but empty, and the heavy lifting pretty much done, Firemen Olaf and Dave can pretty much relax for the last three miles and change as DRGW 315 and... (more)