Moving 168 to the C&TS - Loading Up (23 Sep 2015)

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In 2015, the City of Colorado Springs leased D&RGW 168 to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic for a period of 45 years, with the intention that the engine will be restored to service. On Wednesday, September 23, 2015, the engine and tender were each loaded on a flatbed. The convoy left for Antonito just after 7pm, as the sun was setting.

Date: 09 Sep 2015

Size: 34 items

[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Wednesday, September 23, 2015 was moving day for D&RGW 168. After nearly eighty years of sitting in parks around the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, today it was loaded up for a move to Antonito, CO. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] About 10:30 in the morning, the moving crew has a stack of ties and some of the connecting rail in place. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] The support tie stack needs to go back a little further, so the crew breaks out the shovels to remove a bit of ballast from the end of the display track. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Everything's lined up now, and they've got the winch cable attached to the old coupler pocket on the tender. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] C'mon back, nice and easy... Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Once the tender was loaded up and secured on one end, they immediately moved the truck out onto the street so that they could get the next one moved into place. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] With the tender loaded and the truck out of the way, the next heavy hauler backs up to have its rails connected. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] With the trailer and rails connected and the winch cable attached, now all there is to do is wait for the VIPs to arrive and the afternoon ceremony. Well, that and keep dumping oil on those bearings to make sure they move at the right movement without da ... Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: Larry Green	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] What do you need to haul a T-12 class 4-6-0? One monster of an Army surplus Oshkosh truck and matching trailer, custom fitted with 3' rails. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] The other end of Soni's second truck, showing the trailer that will be taking 168 down to the C&TS. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] One last look at the engine in the park without the fence. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Hurry up and wait... Seems like a good time for a bit of a break before the VIPs show up for the lease signing ceremony. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Today's four VIPs (from left to right): Matt Mayberry of the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum, Mayor John Suthers, C&TS Commissioner Dan Love, and C&TS President John Bush. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[533x800] [1067x1600] [2000x3000] John Bush gets a few minutes at the microphone to talk to the audience about the engine's history and its bright future. John was one of the men that performed the last cosmetic restoration on the engine back in 1982-1983, and is very familiar with its c ... Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1066] [3000x1999] Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers speaks to the crowd about the engine and its bright future. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] With the speeches concluded, Mayor Suthers and C&TS Railroad Commissioner Dan Love sign the lease agreement transferring 168 to the C&TS's care for the next four and a half decades. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[533x800] [1067x1600] [2000x3000] With the festivities concluded and the lease signed, C&TS President John Bush gives hand signals to the winch operator to guide 168 up onto the trailer. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Let the winching begin! Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] With all the bearing surfaces already pre-lubed, the engine seemed to roll nicely once they started pulling. Aside from a quick stop to inspect a few things as they got the first driver on the trailer, it was a slow and smooth transfer. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[533x800] [1067x1600] [2000x3000] Soni Honegger looks back to see if they've winched up everything nice and tight as he works to chain the engine to the flatbed. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Snugging up the winch cable so that 168 can be tied down. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Okay, that looks good - secure it! Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] A rather remarkable crowd turned out to see the engine move, considering the event was in the middle of the day on a weekday. It's good to see folks are interested in what's happening to our history. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] With the engine secured, it's time to unbolt the angle irons holding the temporary rail bridge. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] If you've ever wondered what remained inside 168's cab, here's the engineer's side with the cab door removed. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[533x800] [1067x1600] [2000x3000] And the fireman's side... Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] The empty display track. Unlike the first display track for the 168 which was laid with original D&RG 30-pound rails from Sheffield, England, this current one is laid with standard CF&I ~60 pound stock. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] With both pieces safely secured and the trucks ready for the trip to Antonito, the crew went for dinner. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Just after 7pm - departure time. Unfortunately also just after the last light of day. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] The truck with 168 departs from Antlers Park. After nearly 80 years, the engine is once again headed back to active rails. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes	[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] The truck carrying 168 crosses over I-25 at Bijou just after 1900h as the convoy heads south to Antonito. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes
[800x533] [1600x1067] [3000x2000] Pulling on to I-25 for the long, slow journey. Date: 09 Sep 2015 Owner: ND Holmes

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