Gordon Garnhart / photo by Rich Thom

There were 29 people gathered at the Summer Hill Retirement Community conference room on Wednesday, March 9th. The mini swap meet brought some diesel engines, a variety of rolling stock, both freight and passenger, and a few buildings.

For the main event of the evening, Rich Thom showed some excellent slides and a fine video of Narrow Gauge Steam! In this program, Rich took us on a video tour of two of America’s favorite–and arguably finest–surviving narrow gauge steam railroads, central Pennsylvania’s East Broad Top Railroad and, in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which is the longest surviving remnant of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad’s once vast 36” narrow gauge system. Although the same gauge, the two railroads are worlds apart in character. We were shown these railroads as they were 14 years ago and, although both survive, they offer today nothing like the activity captured in this program. On the EBT, all four of their then-operable 2-8-2 Mikados were in action for one of their last Fall Spectaculars. (Today only one EBT steam loco is serviceable.)

Opening the line in May 1997 for the summer operating season

On the C&TS, we rode the Cumbres Pass for the very last run of the last surviving D&RGW steam driven rotary snowplow, ALCO-built (1923) plow OY, as it cleared the winter’s snow on the 4-percent grade out of Chama east to Cumbres and beyond. Three of the railroad’s hefty Class K-36 Mikes were needed to push the plow slowly up the hill. We had an inside look at plow OY, as well as a ride in the cab of the lead K-36 as it cleared deep snow around Tanglefoot Curve. All during the slides and the video, Rich provided a running commentary on what we were seeing, including dates, places, and fascinating historical details. The video was complete with stereo sound for the steam enthusiast, and showed many details to inspire modelers. Most of the video and a great majority of the photographs were taken by Rich.

We look forward to Wednesday, April 13th, when Dick Haines will discuss various water effects that will enhance the scenery aspects of our layouts.