The Natl. Park Svc. Special - Nov. 23 & 24, 1968
| November 23, 2018 08:25AM |
|
Good Morning, Everybody, and happy Black Friday -
Fifty years ago this morning – almost to the hour – photographer Ernie Robart was on hand as a train of three passenger cars rested in front of the D&RGW depot in Durango, Colorado. The presence of caboose 0540 on the south end might lead one to think that there would be a special heading north to Silverton that day, but business car B-7 on the opposite end – still lettered " U N I O N P A C I F I C " from her supporting actress role in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' – was oriented toward the southeast. Locomotive #483 was still wearing the atrocious "Grand Mountain R.R. Line" Hollyweird makeup applied for the filming of 'The Good Guys and the Bad Guys' near Chama a few weeks earlier, but at least her tender had been partially re-painted and she was wearing a proper flying Rio Grande logo when she pulled out of her stall in the roundhouse, was serviced, and coupled to the caboose of the short train:
Photos copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
After some last-minute attention to the engine's bell the train departed, heading south out of town:
Photos copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
My copy of Terry Ross' brief history of the event indicates that Steve Connor was the engineer that day, but does not identify the fireman. Can one of our knowledgeable regulars identify him from the photos above and below?
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
It was a beautiful, clear Autumn day as the train left Durango behind:
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
At Carbon Junction the train swung left on the old Main Line, and headed up Bocea Hill:
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
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2021 01:07PM by Russo Loco.
Fifty years ago this morning – almost to the hour – photographer Ernie Robart was on hand as a train of three passenger cars rested in front of the D&RGW depot in Durango, Colorado. The presence of caboose 0540 on the south end might lead one to think that there would be a special heading north to Silverton that day, but business car B-7 on the opposite end – still lettered " U N I O N P A C I F I C " from her supporting actress role in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' – was oriented toward the southeast. Locomotive #483 was still wearing the atrocious "Grand Mountain R.R. Line" Hollyweird makeup applied for the filming of 'The Good Guys and the Bad Guys' near Chama a few weeks earlier, but at least her tender had been partially re-painted and she was wearing a proper flying Rio Grande logo when she pulled out of her stall in the roundhouse, was serviced, and coupled to the caboose of the short train:
Photos copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
After some last-minute attention to the engine's bell the train departed, heading south out of town:
Photos copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
My copy of Terry Ross' brief history of the event indicates that Steve Connor was the engineer that day, but does not identify the fireman. Can one of our knowledgeable regulars identify him from the photos above and below?
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
It was a beautiful, clear Autumn day as the train left Durango behind:
Photo copyright © 1968, 2018 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.
At Carbon Junction the train swung left on the old Main Line, and headed up Bocea Hill:
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
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2021 01:07PM by Russo Loco.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.