Festus Wrote:
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> If you've read the accounts of the engine crews
> who handled ore trains down from Animas Forks,
> you'd see it was a hair-raising experience at
> times. The grades on this branch would normally
> disqualify it for the use of conventional rod
> engines. Making it even more exciting was the
> fact that at the end of the grade at Eureka there
> was a nice sharp curve. I've been over both
> Engineer and Cinnamon Passes - a railroad grade
> over either one would have been a nighmare (unless
> you had some long tunnels). The Animas Forks
> branch operations were limited to a few months
> each year (except during very mild winters).
It was especially bad if the Animas Forks was in the consist!
There was some discussion, I thought on here, of a number of locals discussing the idea of relaying part of the line near Silverton. As I recall, the really bad part (operationally) was the last extension to Animas Forks from Eureka.
I guess I'm the one whom started the repaint talk so...
I understand that the 315 crew want/need the publicity of being the 315. If they return her to Elkton (F&CC #3) paint, or something else, less of the non-ng junkee public will realize that it is the 315 group doing that fine work...and they lost the publicity that they thoroughly deserve. The difference between here modern and F&CC appearance is fairly trivial. The biggest mechanical differences are the crossheads and the air pumps.
I just think that it would be really cool, even if it is only done in photoshop, to see her as SN #3 or #4 sitting out in front of her home, the SN enginehouse. I can't say enough good things about the Durango Railroad Historical Society not only for the job they did on 315 without a shop, but then the decision to park her in the SN enginehouse. It'll be great to see that enginehouse connected up to the D&S again.
I hope that something is worked out for #20 to visit the set of Ticket to Tomahawk once more. Maybe she'd need to carry Colorado Railroad Museum either on her tender or on a boxcar behind her. But, still, we are several years from that happening...I'd guess that there will be some turnover within the various organizations involved, so it could be a different ballgame.
Personally, I think the 318 would be the best candidate for F&CC paint. That would give CRRM representatives from 4 of the major CO NG railroads. But I've got no complaints even if they paint them up as Mickey Moose...I'm neither funding it nor doing the work.
Michael