Re: Heating the cars

Charlie:
This newspaper item will answer your question:

November 23, 1931, Monday

Passenger Train Stalled on Pass

Sunday’s passenger train was still tied up at Coxo on the west side of Cumbres Pass this afternoon and today’s outgoing Eastern is being held in the yards at Durango until a rotary snow plow from Alamosa has succeeded in clearing the line.

The situation at Coxo is said to be serious. The two engines which were bucking snow in an effort to get the train over the pass, are dead one mile from the coaches and baggage and mail cars. A stiff wind is drifting the snow badly, and due to the fact that the tracks between the coaches and engines will have to be cleared by snow shovelers, railroad officials could not tell when the train could be moved. There are eleven passengers on the train besides the conductor, brakeman, express messenger and mail clerk. It is said that there is sufficient coal aboard the coaches to keep the passengers from suffering from the cold. This morning food was taken to them from the Cumbres station and it is believed all persons on board the snow bound train will be made comfortable.