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GOOSE 5 UPDATE - BLOWN HEAD GASKET
Posted Friday, June 22 2007 at 0917 h MDT
The Cortez Journal has a decent article covering the Goose's recent engine troubles - the ones that caused its cancellation on the C&TS this week. Apparently it's just a blown head gasket, but a head gasket for a GMC 361 isn't exactly something you can find at the local auto parts joint. The good news is that the article quotes Larry Spencer as stating the engine will likely be repaired in about three weeks, so there should be no impact to the D&S Railfest 2007 trips. You can find the article online [here]. - NDHolmes
C&TS GOOSE 5 RUNS POSSIBLY CANCELLED
Posted Tuesday, June 19 2007 at 2332 h MDT
Both narrow gauge bulletin boards are now reporting that RGS Goose 5 will not be making an appearance on the Cumbres & Toltec this week as scheduled, on account of unforeseen mechanical problems (rumored to be a blown engine). If anybody has more information, I'd be happy to pass it along. - NDHolmes
OLS SPECIALS - CRAIG BRANCH AND NORTH FORK
Posted Tuesday, June 19 2007 at 2311 h MDT
Two Colorado Operation Lifesaver specials will be running in the next couple weeks, helping promote public railroad safety awareness. They'll also offer fans a unique opportunity to see passenger trains on parts of the ex-DRGW system that haven't seen passenger service in decades.
The first runs will be June 28-29 on the Craig Branch. They'll run three times daily out of Steamboat Springs towards Craig and back. Details can be found about halfway down [this page].
The second run will take place on 2-Jul-2007 between Grand Junction and Debeque on the old Grande mainline, and then on 3-Jul-2007 between Delta and Paonia on the North Fork Branch. See the [Delta County Independent article] for more details. - NDHolmes
GEORGETOWN LOOP OPENS FOR SEASON
Posted Friday, June 15 2007 at 2249 h MDT
Railstar and the Georgetown Loop have steamer #12 up and running again and were supposed to open for the season today (and I assume did), Friday, 15-Jun-2006. Test runs were made as early as Tuesday, and a free ride was given to locals on Thursday. The Clear Creek Courant has an article on it [here].
12 is the only engine running at the moment - 9 is likely down for at least another season, and new diesel 1203 has not yet arrived. Diesel 21 may be up and running, but Railstar has stated it will not be used in passenger service any longer. The GLR did apparently recently acquire yet another very small diesel. On my way back from Estes Park last weekend, I found [this GE B-50] sitting in front of the Silver Plume depot. It's apparently originally from the Koppers plant railroad in Denver, and has been stored at the Yreka Western recently. - NDHolmes
SUMMER 2007's AMTRAK REROUTES
Posted Friday, June 15 2007 at 1322 h MDT
In what is becoming a yearly occurrence, the Moffat will be shut down for maintenance windows and Amtrak's California Zephyr rerouted via Wyoming for several intervals this summer. Current dates for reroutes are July 10-11, July 15-18, July 22-25, July 29-Aug 1, and Aug 5-8. The full announcement can be found on [Amtrak's website]. - NDHolmes
ATHEARN ANNOUNCES NEW HO SD40T-2s
Posted Tuesday, June 12 2007 at 1154 h MDT
After great anticipation by many HO scale modelers, Athearn has finally announced the first run of SD40T-2s with the new tooling, similar to the overhaul done on the SD45T-2s several years ago. Announced yesterday, the units are actually expected to be available in November 2007 as part of the "Ready to Run" line, with an MSRP of $99.98. The initial three units will be 5357, 5362, and 5371 - all 81" nose units. The announcement image can be found [here], and the page with part numbers and pricing can be found [here]. - NDHolmes
ANOTHER NEW SL&RG B39-8E
Posted Monday, June 11 2007 at 0952 h MDT
The San Luis & Rio Grande is getting another B39-8E in their new paint scheme - SLRG 8542. While I haven't seen it yet, it supposedly looks just like the first unit in their burgundy and gold paint, SLRG 8577. Nathan Z reported this morning that it's buried in the freight of today's M-DVPU. As of 0830h this morning was dead on the law in the Colorado Springs siding. My guess is that it will go south from Pueblo to Walsenburg for interchange either tonight or tomorrow, and should make Alamosa on the following morning. (Update - 6/11 1940h): Nathan Z sent me a photo of the unit - it's now posted [here]. - NDHolmes
STEAM SPECIAL TO ANTONITO
Posted Wednesday, June 6 2007 at 1155 h MDT
The SLRG/Rio Grande Scenic Railroad announced yesterday that they will be running a passenger steam special to Antonito on 13-Jun-2007. They're going to get both the standard and narrow gauge steam as close as possible so that folks can photograph the two, side by side, for the first time in over half a century. The special will depart Alamosa at 1425h, and return by early evening. You can read the official press release [here]. Tickets are only $10, and are available from [their website]. - NDHolmes
NEW TRIP REPORT - STEAM RETURNS TO LA VETA
Posted Wednesday, June 6 2007 at 0731 h MDT
The San Luis & Rio Grande / Rio Grande Scenic Railroad made their first regular passenger trip over La Veta Pass behind steam on Saturday, 26-May-2007. Of course I wouldn't miss photographing such a monumental event, but I've been gone for the last week, so I'm a little behind on getting photos posted. The results are now up in a new trip report [here]. - NDHolmes
SD50 LEASE OVER - ROUNDED UP IN FT WORTH
Posted Monday, June 4 2007 at 1607 h MDT
The DRGW SD50 leases are apparently finally ending, as all seventeen units are being rounded up in Fort Worth, TX. Only two have not yet arrived, and at least one of those is working that way. Expect the whole lot to be returned to the lessor within a month or so. At that point, they'll likely receive new reporting marks (NREX, FURX, HLCX, etc.) and become part of the vast fleet of rent-a-wrecks roaming around the country, providing short-term power to all sorts of railroads. - NDHolmes
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![[here]](http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/061207/SD40T-2_new_061207.jpg){kind=link}