In the days prior to this excursion, there was much speculation among rail enthusiasts as to what the consist would be and whether these engines would be capable of getting even a 3-car train to the summit. After all, when Eureka was last here, some 24 years earlier, she had only been able to haul a long caboose up the hill. They were going to make it this time. Their progress was steady and wheel slip was minimal. Alas, it was not to be. When the train stopped for water at Cresco Tank, the crew discovered that Eureka's blower would not work. On a wood-burner, the fire pretty well collapses when the train stops, due to the lack of a draft. Blower channels boiler steam through the smoke box, allowing the crew to create a draft while the engine is stationary. Without it, Eureka could not make steam and the train was unable to resume its climb. Eureka's crew uncoupled their locomotive and took it off the train in hopes that perhaps Glenbrook could go it alone, and for perhaps 100 yards, she was able to move the train.....but she just did not have the Moxie to make it on her own. A rescue locomotive was dispatched from Chama to help, but by the time it made it to Cresco, the railroad schedule had caught up with this excursion and it was forced to return to Chama after stalling out 4.5 miles short of the goal.