John:
Mayabe it depends upon the local land. That first length of line gets few rains and if there is a washout probably the bridge gange will be needed for the one bridge in that distance. Would love to see the assignments for Antonito to Chama.
ONe thing I have wondered is whether the section men sometines moonlighted also. At Cresco on the site of the section house and bunk house we found what looked like a forgeing furnace and hundreds of hand made nails laying on the fround in that area.
Frank