While in Abilene, TX to check out the local streetcar line, I learned of a fire on the Ruby & Northern - a short line that ran from Abilene to Roby to connect with the main line. A crew was working on a short trestle that had caught on fire and had finished the job when a worked piled the brush and tie remains into a pile. He then set the pile on fire to rid the gully of the trash and sat down to eat his lunch.

A wind came up and spread the fire back to the new trestle and that was the end of it. Then the crew had to replace the new bridge with another - all in the same day.

I suspect most readers here have been following news about the reconstruction of the Lobato trestle at the NGDF.

However, this is worth sharing across boards. Yesterday, the last spike has been driven and the approaches to the newly installed spans were being ballasted.

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,192382

Interesting that Pennsylvania and Hawaii NG equipment is in the first train over this Colorado NG landmark. (not sure the lineage of the flatcar)

The flat car is a D&RGW "Fishbelly" NG flat car. All of the examples originally given to the C&TS were turned into coaches. This version was bought from the Durango and Silverton a few years back after one of their "Garage sales"

Will it be subject to the same weight limitations? i.e. No doubleheading.

To All

I have seen the above question asked many times. I have to ask why is it so important that the reconstruction be of such magnitude that the historic operation limitations are lost? To me it was a unique situation that created unique operating issues. If this is not important to preserve then what is on the C&TS?

Robby Peartree

I think one reason I would increase the working capability of a structure is to give room for "wastage" in the future, rather than box myself in a corner with a limited design load from the outset. That said, since the piers were not rebuilt and the opportunity to upgrade the entire steelwork to a higher loading was not possible, the bridge will still be limited to one engine at a time.

Even if the whole bridge were rebuilt, there's nothing to say that operational rules can't limit operations to one engine at a time--I suspect that a lot of fans just want to see two engines pulling on a high bridge.

Does Cascade Trestle have this loading limitation?

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Both Cascade and “Lobato” (also called Wolf Creek Trestle) were designed by the same designer who designed the hanging bridge in the Royal Gorge and the Atlantic and Pacific Bridge in Johnson Canyon between Williams and Ash Fork which is now buried. According to the timetable published in one of John Norwood’s book (trainmaster for the Rio Grande out of Alamosa) the weight restrictions on Cascade were more restrictive during the Rio Grande days than on Wolf Creek. During most of the C&TS life they have simply used the more restrictive restrictions on both structures which is no double heading of K class locomotives on either structure.

But this question raises a bigger issue. What is purpose of preservations and when do changes eliminate the historical aspects? It amazes me how some people get all excited about paint on a locomotive and can nit pick every detail and yet want two locomotives to operate over that bridge that never would have operated together over the bridge in the days of the Grande. If photo charters help recreate the past then managing the load is a part of that history. In fact with a few changes in the Deck structure and careful management of the load those structures have manage to survive as long as they have. In the end it is a good study of engineering principles and asset utilization on a limited budget. In my mind there is a lot that is said when the locomotives separate to cross one of these structures.

Robby Peartree

Here's a link to the official press release concerning the repairs and the reopening of the bridge. The first train will cross tomorrow.

http://www.ctsrr.com/news/2011/09-19-11 ... -19-11.pdf

The steam train from Antonito crossed the trestle & arrived in Chama this evening.

Here is a video of the photo above, as #19 ballasts one end of Lobato, crosses the bridge, and then ballasts the other end. At one point, cheers are heard!

http://www.youtube.com/user/CumbresTolt ... i--pypsDuo