Re: Helpers based in Chama vs sent there as needed.

Right, Greg -

As noted recently at [ngdiscussion.net], per 'Rio Grande Narrow Gauge — The Final Years, Alamosa to Chama' by Hereford & Robart, traffic declined drastically after the Oriental Refinery in Alamosa shut down in September, 1964.  Winter operations ended in December that year, so I presume helpers were no longer stationed in Chama after late summer in 1964.  Not only had hauling GRAMPS oil from Chama to Alamosa ended, but shipments to Farmington had begun to decline and were also being diverted to Rio Grande Motorways trucks as much as possible.  Jimmy Blouch's records can probably confirm the exact date, but IIRC beginning at that time trains ran from Alamosa to Chama with two engines, whether needed or not, so that there would be a helper available from Chama to Cumbres for the return trip (which might or might not involve making a 'Cumbres Turn' or two, depending on the amount of eastbound traffic).

- Roosso

p.s.  Also per Hereford & Robart (op cit), October 3, 1967, was the only only occasion all year when there was more than one 'Cumbres Turn' prior to a third trip the next day, re-assembling the eastbound train at the top of the pass, and heading on to Alamosa.  Traffic had declined so much by 1968 that there was only a single 'Cumbres Turn' the entire year.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2017 12:53PM by Russo Loco.