Re: Trailing the last #426

Mike the story of the MW02 rear-ending the Extra 498 is one of my favorite stories of all time on the narrow gauge. The crew had tied up at Arboles for the night -hours of service law- to sleep in the caboose. Somewhere, a bottle of rot gut came on the scene so the sleep had to wait for the party to get over with. The guys went swimming, hid on the boat ramp under the water when they heard a trolling motor coming in then all rose up out of the water just as the boat got in sight, scared the S-- out of the fisherman. Next morning, the boys on the MW02 stopped for breakfast then was going like hell to catch the train. They saw the smoke way up over the hill, little did they know the smoke was the head end doubling the hill and sure as the world they rear-ended poor ole Fred, but Fred did have the flag in his hand, doin his best. The boss told them to fix the motor car or they were done forever. As it turned out the RR gave the crew letters of accommadation for a job well done; after all, they took a train to Chama with one engine that should have been a doubleheader.(as a result the 497 stayed in Durango for many years after) Get Bud Schaaf's version of the story, he will make you laugh like h---.
Woody W