John West and I exchanged our THEORIES about Cumbres Turns several months ago, Greg -

See [ngdiscussion.net].   But just because we've figured out what MAY have been the easiest way to do things doesn't mean that the D&RGW actually did it that way, and in any event neither John's theory nor my modification thereof conflicts with Ernie's movies of a flying cutoff of the helper (nor, as others have mentioned, a flying drop of the kibutz . . . )    

IIRC, if it was the first turn of two, or the second of three (the third happening the following day during the mid- and late sixties) the helper would drop the caboose, turn on the wye and return to Chama.  Meanwhile the road engine and crew did any necessary switching, tied down the cars, and then returned to Chama with the caboose.  After the second turn of two or the third of three the helper would run on light to Alamosa once assembly of the train by the road engine was far enough along to allow it to get past.

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2017 06:57PM by Russo Loco.