Firemen School on the C&TS

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad continues their school for different roles on steam operated freight trains. This week, they've got 6 firemen students training. The video is from Monday where they spent half the day in the classroom and half the day making up the train they planned to use on Tuesday.


The latter half of the video gives you a real good view of the Rio Grande flat cars and gondolas as they used to be, not as most of them currently are (peeling paint and rusting away). The C&TS and Friends are doing what they can with what they've got to keep the look of the Rio Grande as it was when the narrow gauge circle still existed as a whole.

The C&TS has announced the school plans and dates for 2011. If I had the ability to work like these guys, I'd be saving my pennies for a tuition! As it is, I'd settle for a nice home with a good view of the yard and coaling tower.