Re: Last revenue freight August 1968

The crews knew. Andy Payne told the story that he was to have been the engineer on the train out of Durango but laid off so he could take pictures of the last trip. That left only Don Gibbs (Bob Shock and Steve Connor were on the Silverton) to operate the freight and cancelled the Grande's plans for a doubleheader.
Since there was unrestained growth of weeds on the track since the previous train of July it was a hard pull to Gato. That is why the train was left at Gato, the 498 returning to Durango only to come out the next day to complete the trip.
The crew also reduced the train enroute, leaving empties at various sidings so only the 14 loads made Chama.