Hello, All -
IIRC, Ernie Robart began chronicling the last years of the
Rio Grande narrow gauge back in 1964 or '65 — as soon as he was old enough to get a driver's license and a car reliable enough to get him from Albuquerque to Alamosa. Unlike most D&RGW fans of the time,* he not only covered the dramatic action over Cumbres Pass but also the operations west of Chama that were reminiscent of standard gauge steam railroading a decade and more earlier throughout most of rural North America. Fortunately for us, Ernie followed #483 from Chama with the last westbound loads on 08/29/68 (see [
ngdiscussion.net] et seq) and stayed in Durango afterward in order to follow the very last revenue freight on the narrow gauge as 17 loads of oilfield supplies and two flats of wallboard were delivered to Farmington on August 31, 1968.
These first three photos show #483 exiting her stall in the Durango roundhouse and being prepared for her last day of regular service
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Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
What appears to be a load of rail is between #483 and her caboose; the engine is sitting on what appears to be the new switch that tied the balloon loop for turning The Silverton into the old main line from Alamosa
:
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
Following usual practice, the caboose was uncoupled en route to Carbon Junction for a "flying drop" of roughly a mile
:
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
(To be continued.)
- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender
* My fellow Curmudgeons John West and Tom Gildersleeve, along with Olaf Rasmussen, also being among the handful of exceptions.
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2022 01:20PM by Russo Loco.