Bad Snow Years

1884 must have been difficult as well. There is an incredible account in John Norwood's Rio Grande Narrow Gauge about a WB train stalling in the east curve of Tanglefoot on Jan 6. It is not known exactly how long the passengers were stranded, but they were there long enough for what is perhaps the greatest PR move in corporate history: Rio Grande Division Supt. Cole Lyden took a train to Antonito and then showshoed (!) form there to Cumbres to boost everyone's morale. The passengers were eventually freed by snowshoeing to an EB from Chama.
Incredibly, it was not until April 12th that the train was actually freed. Surely it was no coincidence that the first flanger arrived in 1885.