Re: Section Crew size

For track maintenance the line(s) was divided into "sections" with each section having a section headquarters. These places would typically have a section house and a section bunkhouse. For larger sections there were more than one bunkhouse or large bunkhouses with several rooms. The section house was for the section foreman, had more than one room and could accomodate a family. Some section houses would have one or two more rooms for laborers but these rooms were maintained separatley from the foreman rooms. The section laborers lived in the bunkhouse. Depending on space availability a section laborer could have family with him. But that was more exception than rule. Sublette would be a good example for section foreman house with an extra room and a regular bunkhouse for section laborers.
Each section had assigned terrritories and each had a foreman and x number of section laborers. The number would depend on the size of the section and season of the year. Usually sections were authorized more men during the summer than winter.
On the Santa Fe Branch, during 1938, there were 6 sections. The break down was as follows:
Antonito 14 miles 1 or 2 Foreman & 2 men (MP 280.0 to 294.0) (This section was also resposible for 15 miles on the Chama line - MP 268.0 to MP 283.0)
No Agua 25 miles 1 Foreman & 4 men (MP 294.0 to 319.0)
Taos Junction 24 miles 1 Foreman & 4 men (MP 319.0 to 343.0)
Embudo 21 miles 1 Foreman & 4 men (MP 343.0 to 364.0)
Espanola 21 miles 1 Foreman & 4 men (MP 364.0 to 385.0)
Santa Fe 21 miles 1 Foreman & 4 men (MP 385.0) to 406.)

System wide, through the years, sections would be abolished and the adjoining sections would have their territories extended.

Bridges and structures were maintained by the Bridge and Building department, B&B. These gangs would work out of the larger terminals, such as Alamosa. These gangs were assigned outfit cars for living quarters when work needed to be done at outside locations. If, for example, work needed to be done on the snow shed at Cumbres, a B&B gang with outfit cars would be moved to Cumbres and they would stay in the cars for the duration of the project. After that they would be moved to another location on another project.

For senority purposes sections and B&B gangs had individual rosters.

I'll stop here, I've rambled enough.


Jimmy