Re: 484,488,492 and 498 on heavy freight turn, June 1966

In the early afternoon the train reached Cumbres Pass, from where 488 was switched out of the train to run light to Chama ahead of the train.



In the meantime 484 had brought a long train of mainly empties from Durango into Chama. The next morning we chased a 484 - 488 Cumbres turn to the pass, from where 484 headed to Los Pinos to retrieve the 8 cars left the day before and to spread the "ballast" where needed (slides yet to be scanned).

Leaving 484 at Los Pinos, John, Steve, and I headed in John's Bronco to Gato to catch up with 498 and the westbound freight. 498 was just arriving and stopped for water at the Gato tank



492 had arrived earlier from Durango, and turned on the wye to help 498 from Gato to Falfa. 492 was sporting 490's smokebox front with probably the worst smokebox paint job ever.



492 had smashed her own smokebox front against this huge rock that fell onto the track, and that I had photographed a few days earlier riding the eastbound RMRRC special. Rather than attempt to move this giant rock, the Rio Grande built a shoo-fly around it.



Here the double header is leaving Gato, running along the San Juan River



(to be continued)