A question was asked as to why the D&RGW ran 4 engine stock trains rather than two 2 engine stock trains. It was a matter or organization. The Gunnison area ranchers did what was called "Powder Horn" specials each fall. It was a matter of sharing workers and equipment and was done to minimize the time to get the cattle (and sheep) to the stock pens at Cleora in Salida. The stock rush did not happen at the same time all over the D&RGW and RGS. D&RGW telegrams and correspondence show D&RGW management trying to shuffle cars from one place to the next that needed cars. As stock cars were used seasonally, the D&RGW and RGS only had enough to meet the minimum demand and handled it by shuffling the cars around.
A number of ranchers did go on the trains taking their stock to market.
Gunnison Republican
October 31, 1929, Thursday
Crested Butte News
Joseph Pecharich, Tony and Joe Posic returned home from Denver on Friday's train. They had taken 6 car loads of cattle to the Denver market the preceding Sunday.
Gunnison News Champion
November 14, 1935, Thursday
In the last 15 days of October, 168 carloads of live-stock left Gunnison, and the total of the month is 443. In 1934, 224 carloads of livestock went out, with the total for October 1934, 529 cars. The greater number in 1934 is accounted for in the shortage of local feed, and the government buying program being carried on them. Last year there were 63 carloads of hay shipped out of Gunnison, while this year there have not been any to date.
Livestock shipment reached their peak last week, when a total of 153 carloads went out of the district. Five cars are scheduled to go out today, Thursday, 11 on Friday and 20 on Saturday.
Gunnison News Champion
November 5, 1936, Thursday
During October there were 283 cars of cattle left the Gunnison loading yards as compared with 211 in the same month of 1935. There were 165 cars of coal during that month as compared with 242 the year previous, 122 cars of sheep to 104 for October, 1935; and 65 miscellaneous cars as compared with 24.
Gunnison News Champion
November 7, 1938
Jacks Cabin News
A number of valley ranchers shipped cattle to market during the past week. Cecil Sampson and Long Spann shipped 25 cars from Jacks Cabin.
