50 Years Ago Today.

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of of the last run of the "San Juan".
488 left Alamosa on train 215 with an expanded consist of RPO, Baggage, 5 vestibuled coaches and parlor cars Alamosa and Chama. The parlor car Chama (on the rear) was being used as business car by DRGW officals who fought to valiantly to discontinue the train. The expected large passenger loading (which didn't materialize) resulted in two cars added which the seats had been removed. Temporary seats were installed. In Chama, 488 was exchanged for 478 for the remainder of the trip to Durango.
The last eastbound departed Durango behind 484 with a consist of RPO, Baggage 2 vestibuled coaches, 2 yellow open platform coaches and parlor car Durango. A third open platform coach had been in use earlier in the week, but was taken off the train for use on the Silverton mixed.
It was intended to take the "Chama" to Gato, turn it on the wye, then place it on the rear of the eastbound back to Alamosa, but the weather turned bad and the trains ran late, so this idea was scrubbed.
Once in Chama, 488 was placed on the train as road engine, 484 became the lead engine to help the last eastbound "San Juan" up Cumbres. 488 finally staggered into Alamosa at 11:20 PM.
(all of this was shamelessly plagerized from Bob Richardson's Narrow Gauge News).
It was the end of an era.
Moment of silence please...........
Thank you, carry on.