WHEN: May 31, 2024 – June 8, 2024
WHERE: Silverton, CO and Chama, NM
CONTACT: Richard Reiff 719-543-7023 daylight4449@comcast.net
Rocky Mountain Narrow Gauge-Spring 2024
(Note: We are still negotiating for a workable schedule for a late August/early September 2024 run on both of these railroads. More when we have this confirmed)
20 car limit. NARCOA mentored operators only. You must be shown as mentored in the NARCOA database. We require that operators who have never operated on these railroads before and new built cars to be checked out at the D&S on a run there before tackling the C&TS.
May 31-June 3 (Friday-Monday) D&SNGRR Silverton, CO
A La Cart price $385/car Tour Price $370/car
The Rocky Mountain Division of NARCOA is pleased to invite you to a 3 operating day, planned 180 mile excursion on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Richard Reiff EC
Friday- ALL Operators will need to report for a drug test in Durango Friday morning around 9am, then drive to Silverton. 2pm Set on Safety Meeting at depot in Silverton followed by set-on and tie up
Saturday- early morning departure southbound to Rockwood, then returning to Silverton early evening.
Sunday-~6am departure for a Hermosa(hopefully) turn, returning to Silverton by late afternoon.
Monday- 6am Rockwood turn, returning to Silverton and setting off at about 11am.
Lodging is on your own, all departures on D&S are from SILVERTON and return to SILVERTON
June 5-8 (Wednesday-Saturday) C&TSRR Chama, NM
A La Cart price $395/car Tour Price $380/car
The Rocky Mountain Division of NARCOA is pleased to invite you to a 3 operating day, planned 216 mile excursion on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Alan Borchardt EC.
Wednesday- Afternoon set on in Chama.
Thursday- ~8:00am depart Chama, run Big Horn(hopefully) turn returning to Chama by late afternoon.
Friday- ~8:00am depart Chama, run to Antonito, CO where we will tie up and spend the night. You will need to arrange for Friday night lodging in Antonito.
Saturday- ~8:30am depart Antonito westbound, again stopping at Osier for lunch, then on to Chama where we will set off by mid afternoon.
Lodging is on your own, plan on Wednesday and Thursday nights in CHAMA, and Friday night in ANTONITO.
If we can get 3 or more rooms booked at the Victorian B&B, the proprietor , John Bush (former president of the C&TS) has offered to do the flagging we need for runs to the summit. Contact 575-756-2675, https://thevictorianchama.com/, and mention you are with the NARCOA motorcar group, for nights of June 5,6
See “Sign Up” section below.
GENERAL REQUIREMENT ABOUT COMMUNICATION WITH RRs
Do not contact either railroad and try to negotiate anything related to these runs, or testing required by D&S. The Excursion Coordinator is the SOLE contact with the railroads about everything related to these runs. Going around the EC is a serious offense, one that will be considered to be misconduct under NARCOA rules, and will not be tolerated. It is the right of an EC to ban anyone who does this from these excursions. Since we have made warning on this, we would consider such behavior to be misconduct with malice.
D&SNGRR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
D&S DRUG TEST: The D&SNGRR requires each operator to take a drug test from the Railroad’s contract lab in Durango 72 hours or less before set on. You can take the test the morning of set on and have plenty of time to drive to Silverton. Marijuana is STILL illegal on federally regulated railroad and you will be tested for it. You must provide a copy of the written lab report from the Railroad’s lab to the Excursion Coordinator before you will be allowed to set on. Test reports from other labs will not be accepted. If you fail the test or do not bring the EC your copy of the report, you do not set on, and there is no refund (unless a retest proves the first test was a false
positive). If you sign up for a D&S run, you will be provided details on how to get the drug testing done. Drug test fee is not included in the run fees. Operators who sign up will receive details on the operating hours of the lab, and the cost per operator.
HARDHATS AND SAFETY VESTS WILL BE WORN ON THE D&S DURING SET-ON, SET-OFF AND WHEN OPERATING BELOW ROCKWOOD.
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH RRs:
EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION REQUIRED: These are very demanding railroads, especially the climb from Chama to Cumbres on the C&TS. We require that new operators and new cars be checked out at the D&S on a run there before tackling the C&TS. Please go over your car carefully. Make sure you have a clean carb and clean fuel in the car.
HIGHLY MODIFIED/CUSTOM BUILT CARS RESTRICTED: The railroads request that no highly modified/highly custom cars be used on these runs due to operational problems in the past. Changing gauge does not constitute highly modified, but the frame, engine type and capacity, transmission, drive train & braking system should be of types and materials that would be used in actual motorcar production of a car of the same size class.
See http://www.narcoa.org/docs/governance/custombuiltv1.6.pdf for definition of highly modified or custom built cars that would fit under this restriction. Call me if you have questions about this requirement.
DRIVE TRAIN MUST HAVE OPERABLE NEUTRAL: Transmissions must have a neutral, and belts must be able to be slipped. If your drive wheels cannot be disengaged from the driving motor from the normal operator position, your car will not be allowed to run. Your motorcar must be capable of being towed at the pace set by the pilot without damage and without having to make modifications such as removing the chain.
USFS/USDA APPROVED SPARK ARRESTORS ARE REQUIRED: If the arrestor unit is approved, but does not have the USDA triangle mark, bring a copy of the USDA registration information.
FRONT RAIL SWEEPS ARE REQUIRED
A CHAIN OR OTHER SUITABLE WHEEL CHOCK IS REQUIRED
ALL MOTORCAR WHEELS WILL BE INSPECTED AND GAUGE CHECKED, OUTSIDE FACE OF 16” PRESSED WHEELS FOR 36″ GAUGE, 42 7/16″ + 0″ – 1/8″
TRADITIONAL DESIGN: Motorcars should be of the nostalgic traditional type that are appropriate for what the narrow gauge railroads are trying to achieve by having our group as guests on their properties. This means NO steam cars, rail rods, track scoots, skateboards, modified ATV’s or something home made that wouldn’t have been used in actual railroad service.
NARCOA COMPLIANT MOTORCAR: including (but not limited to), fire extinguisher, lever actuated brake lights, headlights, lift handles, tow bar, safety chain, etc. If your car does not comply with NARCOA mechanical standards, it will not be allowed to set on. As the owner/operator of a motorcar, you have the ultimate responsibility for its safety and maintenance. Please pre-inspect your motorcar before you leave home.
RADIOS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: In many places on both of these railroads, forward visibility is very limited at times. These are frequently also places where rock and debris falls on the track, leading to rapid unplanned stops. While operators send flaggers back as soon as safely possible, it is still surprising to following operators, and the radio gives earlier heads up. The more people who are monitoring the NARCOA frequency in use, the less surprising these events are. We do switch between NARCOA channels 1,2 &3 on these runs, due to interference from other users. For those who want to just listen, a headset plugged into a scanner is a good option.
OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH RRs:
- The current version of the NARCOA Rulebook will apply.
- This ride is for mentored, experienced and alert operators. No Mentoring on this excursion.
- NARCOA membership, operator certification card, insurance card in your possession.
- NARCOA current Rulebook in your possession. All operators are required to have a working knowledge of the current NARCOA rule book.
- Operators must be 18 years or older.
- Truthfully explain the NARCOA release to your passengers and do not give rides to anyone you do not think is truly willing to accept the risks and give up their legal rights.
- BE PREPARED TO TOW OR BE TOWED if there is a break down. Make sure your hitches and tow bars are compatible. May I suggest 1″ holes in your hitch and tow bars and 3/4″ or 7/8″ pins with keepers. As Smitty used to do, I will ask chain drives and belt drives to mix it up at Chama; I will also order the cars in the lineup based upon engine type. Please follow my directions, as I have important reasons for them.
- THERE WILL BE NO INDEPENDENT OPERATION. This means if we are moving as a
group, you must keep up. Do not stop unless the car ahead of you is stopping, or you have a breakdown. You cannot stop to take pictures. Taking pictures is a passenger job. - KNOW THE RULES All operators are required to have and understand a working knowledge of the current NARCOA rule book. Note: It isn’t the meet coordinators job to train operators on rulebook items when they go on an excursion.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING PASSENGERS:
- ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN ON ANY TRACK AT ANY TIME IN ANY DIRECTION.
- Passengers must be 16 years or older.
- No Passengers are to be carried for hire, or for fund-raising purposes.
- All participants must attend the daily safety meeting, and sign the release which must be printed front and back on a single sheet of paper.
- Be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions, wear appropriate clothing.
- All participants must wear long pants, and work type footwear that covers the ankles (no tennis shoes, sandals, etc.) while on railroad property and also when loading & unloading or working around your motorcar.
- High Visibility vests (should be worn during set on and set off operations, and due to public grade crossings, must be worn below Rockwood on the D&S). On the D&S Hard Hats are required during set on and set off, and when below Rockwood.
- Please refresh yourself and inform your passengers of all NARCOA personnel rules.
- We will be in very remote territory at times; are you capable of walking out if there is a problem and we are not able to ride our motorcars out?
- No pets.
- Absolutely NO SMOKING in motorcars or on Railroad property.
- Excursion concerns should be directed to the EC, not the railroad. This policy applies to any other concerns you may have about the excursion, before, during or after. Do not call the railroad; call the EC. The railroad does not want your calls and will report them to us.
- Be considerate, stay alert, and be prepared: For many reasons, some of which are courtesy and others being safety and time restraints, please, operators and passengers, stay with your motorcars and be considerate, stay alert, and be prepared. At times we will operate at a relaxed pace but when we need to get out of the way and in the clear, you must be a team player and keep up with the group at the pace being set by the railroad pilot.
- Please appreciate how rare an opportunity it is to operate on Rocky Mountain narrow gauge. Operators who have carefully built or restored traditional cars to run here have a collective investment in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Do not endanger that.
IMPORTANT FOR NEW FOLKS: What to Expect on the Narrow Gauge (And what is expected of you)
If you have never attended a narrow gauge excursion in the Rocky Mountains, you should attend one of these excursions as a passenger BEFORE you invest in a narrow gauge car. You absolutely should not attempt to build a narrow gauge car from scratch until you have experience operating in this environment. People have wasted a lot of money building cars that are not capable of operating in the extremely demanding environment of these railroads. Don’t become another one. These runs are NOT low key, and they are NOT everyone’s cup of tea. Experienced, alert operators, and excellent motorcar mechanical condition are required on the Narrow Gauge. There will be no mentoring on these events.
DO NOT CONFUSE NARROW GAUGE RAILROADING WITH “PARK” RAILROADING. You are NOT going for a gentle ride in the park. These are real railroads and are busier than most railroads that NARCOA operates on. The rails are closer together, the curves are sharper, the grades are steeper and due to the tighter track geometry, you will feel like you are going much faster than you actually are. You will not be able to daydream, and as a group we will be under constant time pressure to keep on a rigorous schedule. You will be operating at high elevations (over 9,000ft.), in spectacular
scenery, but also at times with spectacular drop offs near the track.
THESE ARE DEMANDING EVENTS on a busy railroad and we operate as a team. You must be prepared to maintain the pace set by the railroad pilot, maintain a safe following distance, operate with diligence, obey all instructions from the Pilot and the EC, and meet all call times without exception. Most of the time we will be operating on a “zero minute” breakdown rule with repairs waiting until we reach a planned stop. If you, or your motorcar design, are consistently unable to keep up with the team, or are unwilling to comply with instructions, you and your car will be set off at the next road accessible station with no refund.
HIGH ELEVATION IN REMOTE TERRITORY. You will be above 9000 feet elevation. If you are not used to high elevations, plan to stop somewhere at a middle elevation for a night before driving to a Rocky Mountain set on, and then plan to arrive a day or two early until you know how your body will adapt to altitude. There is no road access between Silverton and Rockwood on the D&S, and road access is infrequent on the C&TS; if there is an operational disruption of the line we may be required to walk out. Carry extra medications and food if medically necessary.
Sign up Process
- 20 motorcar limit.
- Sign up deadline is 4 weeks prior to the excursion.
- Print out the registration form at http://www.rockymountaindiv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NG-rez-form-June-2024.pdf and fill it out. Fill out a copy of page 1 for each operator, and fill out a copy of page two for each motorcar.
- Mail both pages of the form and the check to Richard’s address on the form (don’t mail to Alan or Philip)
- We use the postmark date on the envelope containing the check AND the registration form to arbitrate “first come – first serve” so you don’t have to use Fed-Ex and other express delivery. Please do not send registration in any manner that requires us to sign for it. If you do this, it involves a long drive to the post office in town, so it will actually slow down delivery to us, and it is annoying. We will acknowledge by email the receipt of your registration.
- In general, we can do partial refunds IF you give notice at least 10 days before the run. We will issue a check from the RMD for the amount you paid less a $40 fee to help cover some of the run’s fixed costs. If you are cancelling due to illness, we will waive the $40 fee.
- Questions about D&S segment? Contact Richard Reiff at 719-289-6971 or daylight4449@comcast.net
- Questions about C&TS segment? Contact Alan Borchardt (707) 601-4335 or albspng@yahoo.com