Re: Random Fuzzy Photos #23

OK, I'll end the mystery. This is October, 1991. The deal to trade a K-36 for 497 had been inked. The D&S had their choice of either 482 or 483 and all the parts we could scrounge up to make the selected engine as whole as possible. 482 had a better boiler on it so they chose that one. The tender posed a problem. 482's tank would not hold light, let alone water, so that one was a no-go. 483's tank held water but the frame was badly bent as a result of the fatal wreck she in on Bocea Hill outside of Durango in 1958.

So it was decided to put 483's tank on 482's frame.

So why are we looking at 484's tank? That's where "all is not as it appears" comes in. Back then, we lettered tenders with paint and a brush. I could whip out a speedline "Rio Grande" in a few hours, but hand lettering "Cumbres & Toltec Scenic R.R." on the tender side would take me most of the day. Putting the herald on took another couple of days (lots of time waiting for the red and blue paint to dry before putting on the white lettering). To avoid relettering tenders before and after every charter event, we simply grabbed 483's tank, lettered it "Rio Grande" and put whatever number on the rear was appropriate. Appearently, the last use of 483's tender was behind 484.

Here we see the D&S gang at work, the 482's tank is up on timbers, 483's bent frame is about to pulled out from under the jacked up 483 tank. Not in the pic is 482's frame which will be slid under the 483 tank. Later the 483's frame would be slid under 482's tank to complete the swap.

Even though 483's tank held water, it was pretty tough shape. It had the right front corner replaced after wreck and it was a bit twisted. It was behind 482 for only a few years before it got replaced.

As another footnote, the tender we were using behind 488 in late 1980's developed major leaks and needed replacement. Money was always short, so we grabbed 483's tank, I put "488" on the back and it ran for a couple of years behind 488 until money was available for the new tank to be built.

Now you know the story.....