Day 4 - Tuesdasy 10/27/2025 - Catch the 487 in MOW Service and then Fly Home
I was about 7:00am even without an alarm. I packed up a bit and really was thinking hard about what to do. Should I drive an hour over to Antonito and see what is going on with the 315? It could be outside the engine house being prepped for travel up to Golden or it could be hidden and there wouldn't be much to see besides the freight cars there.
I walked down to the yard about 8:00am to see what was up. I found the 487 simmering right in the middle of the yard in the beautiful morning light. I took a few photos of it and walked the yard for a bit. The Hallmark film crew was setting up at the depot to shoot more that morning so I gave them space. I figured I could wait until 9:00 and still realistically make the hour drive to Antonio, look around for 15 minutes or so and then dash to Albuquerque to catch my flight. I went back to my room to finish packed and checked out at 9:00 but then didn't see the 487 in the yard anymore. I drove to the wye west of town to find it there 3 East Broad Top hoppers and historic caboose, 0503. So the 487 was to be used in MOW service today!
In high school, I drove to a neighboring town for advanced classes twice a week. During this time, I couldn't make it back to school for lunch so ended up eating in town. I would regularly get food to go from a restaurant and eat in my truck near the Union Pacific train yard in town just watching the action. Therefore, I had no problem, pulling over on the side of the road, roll down the windows and watch the front end loader load the 3 hoppers with ballast. I watched this for about an hour and just before 10:00, the 487 chuffed off with her load of ballast. I watched her leave and was easily able to get to the first road crossing before she did.
Now, I did the math and knew I needed to leave about 10:15 / 10:20 to make it to ABQ by 1:30pm to drop my car and make my 3:15pm flight back to Houston. I was able to catch the 487 at the first road crossing and then chase her a bit. She sounded great as she pushed the three loaded hoppers of ballast up grade. She didn't go far past the first road crossing before stopping just short of the C&TS's tamper and ballast regular operating around MP 342. I didn't have a chance to see her dump the gravel as I needed to head south.
I repacked the car a bit, said goodbye to my beloved narrow gauge and headed south. I made good time, even though I stopped to get some pictures of the fall colors along the way. I stopped to get the ever safe option of McDonalds for lunch, got gas and still made it to the rental car return at 1:45pm. I was able to get through security pretty quick and was at my gate by 2:00pm! Flight boarded 45 minutes later at 2:45 and we were pushing back on time at 3:15pm.
A cold front was coming in to Houston about when we were so we had to abort one landing due to winds but were still on the ground roughly on time. I made it to my car by 6:45pm and then the 45 minute drive home! Trip success!
I walked down to the yard about 8:00am to see what was up. I found the 487 simmering right in the middle of the yard in the beautiful morning light. I took a few photos of it and walked the yard for a bit. The Hallmark film crew was setting up at the depot to shoot more that morning so I gave them space. I figured I could wait until 9:00 and still realistically make the hour drive to Antonio, look around for 15 minutes or so and then dash to Albuquerque to catch my flight. I went back to my room to finish packed and checked out at 9:00 but then didn't see the 487 in the yard anymore. I drove to the wye west of town to find it there 3 East Broad Top hoppers and historic caboose, 0503. So the 487 was to be used in MOW service today!
In high school, I drove to a neighboring town for advanced classes twice a week. During this time, I couldn't make it back to school for lunch so ended up eating in town. I would regularly get food to go from a restaurant and eat in my truck near the Union Pacific train yard in town just watching the action. Therefore, I had no problem, pulling over on the side of the road, roll down the windows and watch the front end loader load the 3 hoppers with ballast. I watched this for about an hour and just before 10:00, the 487 chuffed off with her load of ballast. I watched her leave and was easily able to get to the first road crossing before she did.
Now, I did the math and knew I needed to leave about 10:15 / 10:20 to make it to ABQ by 1:30pm to drop my car and make my 3:15pm flight back to Houston. I was able to catch the 487 at the first road crossing and then chase her a bit. She sounded great as she pushed the three loaded hoppers of ballast up grade. She didn't go far past the first road crossing before stopping just short of the C&TS's tamper and ballast regular operating around MP 342. I didn't have a chance to see her dump the gravel as I needed to head south.
I repacked the car a bit, said goodbye to my beloved narrow gauge and headed south. I made good time, even though I stopped to get some pictures of the fall colors along the way. I stopped to get the ever safe option of McDonalds for lunch, got gas and still made it to the rental car return at 1:45pm. I was able to get through security pretty quick and was at my gate by 2:00pm! Flight boarded 45 minutes later at 2:45 and we were pushing back on time at 3:15pm.
A cold front was coming in to Houston about when we were so we had to abort one landing due to winds but were still on the ground roughly on time. I made it to my car by 6:45pm and then the 45 minute drive home! Trip success!
