On Sunday, the railroad announced that it would be using the OY rotary in late February or early March 2020 to kick off the the railroad’s 50th anniversary year. OY was built for the Denver & Rio Grande Western by Alco in 1923 and was last used in 1997.
The railroad says an exact date has not been selected for the run. The railroad plans to use the rotary over two days to clear as much of the 64-mile railroad as possible. The railroad is offering a limited number of tickets to see the event and those who are interested in attending are encouraged to send an email to rmartinez@cumbrestoltec.com.
C&TS Assistant General Manager Stathi Pappas tells Trains News Wire that the railroad conducted an inspection of OY two weeks ago and found it to be in “remarkable shape.” The railroad will team up with the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad over the next year to do some mechanical and cosmetic work to the rotary.
I sent in a request to be added to the wait list less an hour of when this was put up on Newswire. I got a response late yesterday that indicated I was number 219 on the waiting list! Great to see there is plenty of interest, but I am not planning to buy plane tickets just yet! 🙂
Only a work train can run over uninspected track and the Rotary will clear the track so the FRA required inspection can be made and signed off on, to approve the track for the following passenger train. One passenger on a work train would make it a mixed train and be in violation of inspection rules. The track can be approved directly behind the work train. The fans may need snowshoes to walk ahead to photo the action, or be bussed ahead. Or maybe they could all be hired as “temporaries” and be given a shovel. Once for a storm, we hired a number of “temps” and we had to give a number of them shoes and a tool. Then they would all be ‘temps’ on a work train. Once in a life time experience that will be.
Mr Cook, what about unpaid volunteers? Carried as photographers and videographers to document the work.