KoloradoKid wrote:
"It is believed that #315 never worked the line between Antonito & Chama,
I find this thought, well, disturbing. There are pictures of the 315 in Durango. She had to get there somehow! Frankly, I would find it hard to beleive that any Rio Grande"
This topic made the rounds in two or three threads and almost a year has passed so my input at this point may be a little late.
However, at that time I did not have material at hand to add much to the discussion. Subsequently I have discovered various tid bits and just yesterday located an actual opertion of engine 315 over Cumbres Pass.
First just a little back ground. It may be recalled that my posting earlier this year of train operations showed the use of engine 315 on the Ouray branch during 1939.
In March 1941 it was taken out of service at Montrose apparently due to a rod problem. It stayed in Montrose until August 1941 when it was moved dead in train to Gunnison. From there it was moved dead in train to Mears Jct and then on to Alamosa.
After completion of shop work at Alamosa it made a break in run from Alamosa to Big Horn and return to Alamosa on November 11, 1941.
On November 15, 1941, extra west out of Alamosa with engines 487 and 488 had engine 315 in tow. Arrived Chama 8:45 AM November 16.
Engine 315 moved dead in train from Chama to Durango on November 18, 1941. Extra west with engine 487, depart Chama
4:00 PM arrive Durango 3:05 AM November 19.
Reason for the move to Durango was assignment as Durango switcher. It was placed in service as Durango switcher on January 5, 1942. Last date of switching at Durango was October 13, 1949.
During 1945 it was necessary to move engine 315 to Alamosa for shop work.
On August 30, 1945, engine 315 was used as switcher from 8:15 AM to 4:15 PM. It then departed Durango light on August 31 at 12:15 AM, engineer Dickman.
Arrive Chama 8:35 AM
Depart Chama 4:20 PM light, engineer Hall
Arrive Alamosa 10:10 PM
Return to Durango
October 15, 1945
Engineer Donaldson
Depart Alamosa 11:59 AM light
Arrive Chama 7:05 PM
October 16, 1945
Engineer Johnson
Depart Chama 8:45 AM light
Arrive Durango 3:05 PM
Back in switching service on October 17, 1945.
Jimmy
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2009 04:06PM by Jimmy Blouch.
