Re: Almost 50 years ago - a small, sad farewell . . .

Tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I find it remarkable that a California guy would
> be on hand in Colorado to film the last narrow
> gauge freights . . . I wonder if the somberness
> of the occasion set in on Russo at the time?


It sure had, Tom -

I had attended college at General Palmer's little school in Colorado Springs, where Ed Stabler's dad was a much-loved perfesser.  And, as noted below, I spent a week or two nearly every summer from '62 through '68 in Narrow Gauge Country and was well aware that the end was near.  But I do admit that my visit that year turned out to be unexpectedly well timed.  The mood was especially glum during the lunch & water stop at Sublette on 08/28, and the drizzle only intensified as the train headed west . . .






There was no fanfare whatsoever for these last freights on the San Juan Extension – possibly because a small but vocal group was pushing for preservation of the line, and the D&RGW didn't want to provide them any opportunity at all to get publicity for their cause.  IIRC, there were only half a dozen or so fans on hand when the westbound train left Alamosa, only three or four of us at Sublette, and maybe six or eight at Cumbres a few hours later.

The following day ended very gloomily in Alamosa after intermittent showers; IIRC Ernie Robart had gone west to chase the last freight to Durango and then on to Farmington, so only Olaf Rasmussen, Al Chione and I were on hand to take photos as the last eastbound freight tied up:


#498's fire was dropped a short time later, and although she was eventually hauled to Durango for possible use on the Silverton Train, she hasn't run since 08/29/68.

- Roosso

p.s. For further information, see [ngdiscussion.net].



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2018 08:08PM by Russo Loco.