First, I am not trying to sell anyone anything here, but I thought for historical purposes it would be nice to know what exists. This is from Disc one of "Last Steam Freights 1968" Which I decided to watch today after many years.
-The video starts with an intro piece then as follows:
April 23, 1968. A couple of stills that Ernie Robart shot in Black and White of the 478 and 476 making a break-in run after being shopped over the winter. This train ran to Lava Loop and back with a caboose(no cars). Also on April 23rd, engine 498 made a roundtrip to Gato with empties from Durango. There are no images of this run.
May 28th, 1968. There are a few color images from John West showing the 478 and 476 taking the first freight of the year from Alamosa to Durango. Double headed to Cumbres from Alamosa, then 476 ran light on to Durango while 478 took the train solo. No movies of this train
June 3, 1968. Scholl family films of 478 taking caboose to Carbon Junction, then picking up the train from May 28th. Roundtrip with the first loads of the season to Farmington, returning with empties left at Carbon Junction.
Footnote: Years later I acquired use of films from Richard Traver of operations we shot June 3-4-5, and he has footage of this in a video we did in 2018 called "Rio Grande's 4th Division"
June 4th, 1968. The Scholl family shot 476 to Silverton at Hermosa, and the old 550 crossing near Shalona lake. Then back to Durango where we see 498 being prepared for a run to Chama. This would be the first eastbound through to Chama and then to Alamosa. The engine really struggled up Bocea Hill out of Carbon Junction. The Scholl family followed this train as far as Gato.
Also June 4th (483 and 493) had taken a westbound freight Alamosa to Chama (no movies or stills of this)
June 5th. The Scholl family watch three engines in Chama, and later watch 498 depart with the westbound freight to Durango. Following this they chase 483 and 493(Rear helper) to Cumbres, and at Cumbres Loop. Later they pace 493 north from Antonito, and see some yard scenes in Alamosa. This would end the Scholl coverage for 1968
June 6th. 498 made a roundtrip to Farmington from Durango with the freight it brought over from Chama on June 5th. No movies or stills of this train
June 13th, was the next series of trips. 498 again went east to Chama, while 483 and 493 went west with loads to Chama. There are no films or stills of this in our video.
June 14th Ernie Robart was in Chama and got 483 and 493 returning from the wye at the main highway crossing(lumber yard in background). Then he shot 498 departing Chama with freight headed west. He then shot it west of Chama, showing all 46 cars of the freight, and again at Willow Creek siding. From here he blasted back to Chama, and caught 493 and 483(rear helper) at the crossing outside of Chama headed east. Movie scenes here, at the narrows, east of Dalton, Coxo Crossing, and at Cumbres(we see 483 cutting off on the fly which was kinda unique). He gets the helper and the train at Cumbres loop and bids farewell to the train. He isn't done yet though!!!! Ernie heads west and catches up to the westbound freight he shot leaving Chama earlier. 478 had been sent to Gato, and now is helping 498. He picks up the train around Allison, and stopping at La Boca for water. Then a runby and some pacing toward Ignacio.
Amazing amount of dedication on Ernies part on June 14th!!! This train also marked the last use of a K-28 in revenue freight service!!!
June 15th No films or stills, but 498 made a roundtrip to Farmington delivering the loads from the 14th.
That is the end of disc 1. Will doing a similar accounting of disc two, which covers July and August (1 WB each month), and subsequent moves after that.
Greg Scholl
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2018 07:22AM by Greg Scholl.
