Re: Alamosa October 6 1944

Jim:

Hope Jimmy will not mind me commenting.

Every fall there was a combined stock roundup around Gunnison and the operations were called the "Powderhorn Specials." A number of ranches did coordinated roundups. The D&RGW put on extra crews, stationed extra helpers at Sargents. Stock extras were run on all the branches. In the 20s, 30s and earlier, stock specials were run on the Floresta Pitkin, Lake City, and even the Monarch branch. There are photos showing a stock train at Pitkin in the late 20s with three C-16s.

As an aside, more stock was shipped from Heber, Utah over the Provo Canyon than any place on the D&RGW. D&RGW 2-6-6-2s were required to pull these trains.

Following a few examples from the narrow gauge:

October 7, 1920
Extra 344 Gunnison to Kebler Pass (Floresta branch) and return with 20 cars of sheep loaded at Kebler Pass.

October 4, 1924
Extra 456 Gunnison to Jack's Cabin and return with 48 stock cars.

October 19, 1924
Extra 214 Gunnison to Jack's Cabin and return with 31 stock cars.

Jerry Day


jim pallow Wrote:
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> J.B., I had no idea that there was so much
> livestock business. Is it because of the season or
> was it like this normally? Jim Pallow