Inspection Underway!

The D&RGW 315 is deep into her annual FRA inspection in Chama this week, and our volunteer are working hard!

This is the unglamorous part of running a steam locomotive — and the most important. Over next days the crew opens the front end and clears the cinders, pulls every washout plug, punches the tubes, and washes out the boiler completely. Air compressors will be pulled apart to be cleaned and resealed. The tender gets separated from the engine so its running gear, brake rigging, and drawbar can be inspected — the drawbar and pins get a dye penetrant test to find cracks the eye can’t see.

Every hour these volunteers put in this week is what makes September and October possible. Our thanks to all of them.

Want to see the results of their work? The 315 pulls fundraising excursions on the Cumbres & Toltec on September 27 and 28 — 60 seats each, photo run-bys, and a second locomotive joining her on the 28th.