Free Republic

Traveling for 64-miles along the border between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad chugs its way up and over the 10,015 foot high Cumbres Pass. Built in 1880, the C&TS Railroad has revealed the staggering beauty of the American west for nearly a 140 years. Filmmakers Annie and Russell O. Bush tell the the story of those who built and maintain this American tradition through the lens of lifetime railroader John Bush in this powerful short.

Two live web cams went on line this weekend in Chama, NM showing the train yard of the steam-powered narrow gauge RR. As of the time of this posting, the daily eastbound passenger train from Antonito, CO has just arrived and stopped at the depot. After the passengers depart, the two other live steam engines will separate the cars for servicing and arranging for Sunday's departures. All of this under blue skies and autumn fall colors. Enjoy! http://www.coloradonewmexicosteamtrain.org/yard-cams.htm

According to source in Chama the State Historical Preservation office (SHPO) sent a fax to the contractor demanding that he 'cease and desist' from any further work because they are not using 'historic' nails. I think SHPO got told where they could stuff it. They approved the project a long time ago, and I doubt they'll be allowed to imperil a historic property by stopping the re-roofing just before the winter. What may have caused this little problem was the pictures on The Goat, and references to use of a nail gun. Some clueless jerk who just wants to stop...

CHAMA, NM - Several meandering V-shaped UFOs near a mountain slope here turned up on a woman's digital photos. Three photos shot with a 21 megapixel camera caught multiple crafts approaching in the first frame, one craft in frame two moving close to the ground while the others take positions in the sky, and then frame three shows all of the crafts moving out of the area.