Re: Flanger/Spreader trains 1965-1966

After the Christmas break flanger/spreader chase, another opportunity arose during Semester break at the end of January in 1966. I heard about another flanger/spreader run from a source I do not now recall (either Ernie Robart, Chama agent Trotter or Alamosa dispatcher Ficci). A fellow engineering student from Vietnam wanted to join me because he had never seen snow. We drove from Las Cruces to Alamosa and spent the night at the long-gone Victoria hotel (@ 3 dollars per night). On the morning of January 25 the radio announced that Alamosa was the coldest spot in the country at 28 below zero. After a long shove by a pick up truck we finally got the VW beetle going and the chase was on. In the freezing conditions 493 and 483 left a mile-long blanket of impenetrable steam fog on the parallel highway that stopped all traffic in both directions.