Two K-28's Break-In Run to Lava - April 23, 1968

Hi, All -

Ernie Robart recently loaned me a few of his historic b&w negatives to scan,* and due to #476's recent return to service I thought some of you might appreciate these initial efforts.  My equipment is pretty good – a NIKON Coolscan 9000 and Ed Hamrick's superb VueScan software – but my scanning and retouching skills are strictly amateur, so please blame any shortcomings in the following on me, and not on Ernie's photography.

Two Silverton Train K-28's spent the winter of 1967-68 undergoing Class 5 repairs in Alamosa.  Here they are early on the frosty morning of April 23, 1968, being readied for a break-in run to Lava Loop and return:

Photo Copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - ALL Rights Reserved.


Photo Copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - ALL Rights Reserved.

Per Ernie's notes (hereby corrected - he had the engine numbers swapped), the engineer on #476 #478 that day was Steve Connor; his fireman was Johnny Teem, so this is Johnny Lira running #476:

Photo Copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - ALL Rights Reserved.

Engineer Johnny Lira Steve Connor and #478 lead the way through the yard; I think that's Road Foreman of Engines Jim Pearce riding the front step of the tender:

Photo Copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - ALL Rights Reserved.

The engines are coupled to caboose 04343, and the "train" is ready to roll:

Photo Copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - ALL Rights Reserved.

Note what appear to be several transformers loaded on narrow gauge flats — does anyone know what they were and where they were headed?
(Not west of Tunnel #1, I presume.)

Also note the semi- puzzle switch, with only a standard-gauge track diverging — it has two frogs, but no "toad" "tadpole".   (See [ngdiscussion.net] et seq.)

(To be continued.)

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

*  "A few" = nearly 450!



Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2018 03:08PM by Russo Loco.