K-28 Break-In Run, Conejos Bridge to Alamosa - 04/23/68

Hello again -

The train had a good head start before Ernie even started back down the steep hillside to his car at the Lava pump-house; the next shot on the roll is #476 leading #478 and caboose 04343 through the bridge over the Conejos River just north of Antonito:

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

Ernie took a lot of pacing shots, going-away and three-quarter head-on shots as the train raced north; this is one of the best of the latter, as it's relatively free of poles & wires and background clutter: *

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

Here's a good shot of the small water tower at La Jara, along with an action shot on a slight uphill grade a few miles farther north:

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

Judging by the shadows, it was mid-afternoon when the train arrived back in Alamosa and #476 was given a spin on the turntable:

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

#476 rated stall #1 in the roundhouse, where she rested for about five weeks before her next assignment: **

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

"Th' . . .  Th' . . .  That's All, Folks!!!"

- Roosso

p.s.  I'm surprised that no-one has commented on the two loco's bright aluminium pilots . . .    

 *  You modern foamers probably take underground utilities for granted; poles and wires were compositional hazard in the 'good old days' – even along the Narrow Gauge – and their absence is a good way to tell a Phraud-O-Graph from the Real Thing.

**  On May 28, 1968, the two K-28's pulled a freight from Alamosa to Durango in one long day — a trip that John West has nicknamed 'The Mad Dash'.  For Ernie's photos of the day's travels, see [ngdiscussion.net] et seq.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2019 09:33PM by Russo Loco.