The following map has been stolen from my friend Ernie Robart and Joe Hereford Jr.'s EXCELLENT book "
Rio Grande Narrow Gauge - The Final Years, Alamosa to Chama" - hopefully it will clarify things a bit.
I haven't seen John's photo(s), since he said they were quite large and I'm still on dial-up; I'm waiting for the promised downsized (web) versions to be posted. He said that he was standing near the west switch, so I have noted his
approximate position and camera direction on the map, along with my position and camera direction for the accompanying photo (I stayed on the train during this stop due to a VERY inconveniently timed digestive upset). During the switching maneuvers here, the engine was on the north side of the loop, pointing compass east (more or less) but westbound toward Sublette. After completing the setout, #315 continued her u-turn around the loop, passed the water tower, and headed west ...