April 2, 1936 (Thur.) Rotary OM, engines 487-489 operated Chama to Alamosa
April 2, 1936 (Thur.) Rotary OY, engines 488-268 operated Alamosa to Chama
The trouble started back on March 31,1936. Extra 482-484 departed Alamosa at 1:20 AM. It looks like they left Sublette 10:00 AM after waiting "2 hours let 115 by to give us flange." Then at MP 328 11:20 AM to 11:50 PM doubled to Cumbres account stuck in snow. (Part of train left at MP 328 with brakeman Curtis flagging until released 6:30 AM (April 2) when rotary OM arrived.) Train 115 made it through to Chama and Durango. Train 116 did not go east of Chama on March 31 due to above mentioned situation. No trains over Cumbres on April 1.
April 2:
Rotary OM with 487-489
Conductor McLaughlin (0517)
OM pilot Thompson
OM engineer Kellogg
487 Coughlin
489 Rowe
Called Chama 11:45 PM (April 1)
Depart Chama 12:30 AM (April 2)
Arrive Cumbres 3:40 AM (Plowed to freight at MP 328 and returned to Cumbres.)
Depart Cumbres 8:00 AM
Sublette 12:55 PM
Lava meet No. 115
Arrive Antonito 3:40 PM (Meet rotary OY.)
Entire crew DH to Alamosa on extra 487 east. (Relief crew DH on Rotary OY Alamosa to Antonito to bring OM train into Alamosa.) (Crew only for engine 487, engine 489 in tow.)
Conductor report:
487-489 east rotary McLaughlin
Cumbres 3:40 AM to 8:00AM clearing siding and plow to train stuck in snow MP 328.5. Bring train into Cumbres. Cumbres to Antonito 8:00 AM to 3:40 PM 4/2 opening line with rotary.
Information phoned to dispatcher:
7:15 AM FET (?) at Cumbres advises main track at Mile Post 328.5 clear - work extra 487-489 moved 15 loads, 1 empty and caboose mile post 328.5 to Cumbres and OK to start No. 115 from Alamosa.
Rotary OY with 488-268
Conductor Hurley (0503)
OY pilot Caldwell
OY engineer Todd
488 Ray
268 Marsh
Called Alamosa 2:45 PM
Depart Alamosa 3:25 PM
Arrive Antonito 4:45 PM (Meet rotary OM.)
Depart Antonito 5:00 PM
Depart Big Horn 7:10 PM Meet 1st & 2nd No. 116
Arrive Cumbres 11:00 PM
Depart Cumbres 11:30 PM
Arrive Chama 1:30 AM
Tie up 1:55 AM
Conductor report:
Extra 488-268 west delayed
Alamosa: 20" get engine ready and on train, 20" working on air rotary
Antonito: 15" coal and water
Big Horn: 35" Meet 1st & 2nd No. 116
Sublette: 30" water and eat
Osier: 15" clean siding
Cumbres: 30" clean sidings
Cumbres to Chama: 45" clean sidings
Chama: 25" turn rotary and tie up.
Train No. 116 (April 2, 1936)
At this point there were two sections of the San Juan on the west end.
Train 116 departed Durango 8:50 AM with 14 cars.
Train was split into two sections at Chama, 1st and 2nd 116. Two additional cars must have been picked up at Chama as 1st 116 had 11 cars and 2nd 116 had 5 cars.
1st 116, engines 475-482, depart Chama 4:00 PM. 2nd 116, engine 470, depart Chama 4:10 PM.
Train 115 and both sections of 116 met at Cumbres. Engineer on 1st 116 was Wellington and he worked through to Alamosa. Engineers on 115 and 2nd 116 switched at Cumbres, Arnell on 115 switched to 2nd 116, engineer Fitzer switched from 2nd 116 to 115. 1st & 2nd No. 116 met rotary OY at Big Horn. 1st 116 arrived Antonito 7:27 PM and 2nd 116 arrived Antonito 7:35 PM.
Train 115 met the rotary OM at Lava, and had parlor car Pagosa.
Engine 268 went west to Durango the next day, April 3, and then was used on a work train most of the month between Durango and Pagosa Jct.
Final runs of rotaries OM and OY during the winter of 1936 were on April 2, 1936, leaving the OM at Alamosa and the OY at Chama. The rotaries were returned to their normal locations in September 1936 as detailed below.
September 27, 1936 (Sun.)
Alamosa extra 489 west, move rotary OM to Chama
Conductor Moore
Engineer Owenby
Depart Alamosa 12:15 PM with rotary OM
Depart Antonito 2:07 PM with rotary, 8 loads
Arrive Chama 8:20 PM with rotary, 8 loads
September 28, 1936 (Mon.)
Chama extra 489 east, move rotary OY to Alamosa
Conductor Moore
Engineer Owenby
Depart Chama 12:40 PM
Arrive Cumbres 1:50 PM, Depart Cumbres 2:15 PM
Meet with No. 115 not shown, probably Osier (No. 115 was running about 5 hrs. 45 mins. late)
Arrive Antonito 5:50 PM, No. 116 by
Depart Antonito 6:35 PM
Arrive Alamosa 8:00 PM with rotary OY
April 2, 1938 (Sat.) Rotary OY, engines 486-487, operated Chama to Alamosa.
Chama extra 486-487 east, rotary OY
Rotary OY pilot Kellogg
Rotary OY engineer Boyd
Engine 486 engineer Coughlin
Engine 487 engineer Thompson
Conductor J Morgan (0503)
Called Chama 1:35 AM
Depart Chama 2:30 AM
Arrive Cumbres 5:20 AM
Depart Cumbres 6:25 AM
Arrive Antonito 3:25 PM
Departed Antonito 3:30 PM
Arrive Alamosa 4:55 PM
Conductor report:
Extra 486-487 east, rotary
Chama 30 minutes for engine to switch with, 25 minutes switch, water outfits, couple up, air test
Lobato 20 minutes clean siding
Cresco 20 minutes clean siding
Cumbres 45 minutes clean west leg wye and storage, 10 minutes for instructions
Los Pinos 7:05 AM to 8:00 AM 25 minutes clean siding, 30 minutes let extra 488 east by
8:00 to 10:10 AM go to MP 321 shovel down snow
10:10 AM to 10:50 AM return to Los Pinos meet No. 115 and return to MP 321 15 minutes clean snow out
Osier 40 minutes clean passing track account car coal on passing track
Toltec 10 minutes go thru passing track
Sublette 30 minutes eat and go thru passing track
Big Horn 10 minutes clean passing track
Antonito 5 minutes water
(J Morgan)
Information provided by Jimmy Blouch from Alamosa Division Dispatcher trainsheets.
