C&TS on 'Day One' - 09/01/70 (pics)

Hi, all -

I'm not sure when the papers were signed authorizing the Colorado - New Mexico Bi-State RR Commission,  nor do I know when the sale of the RR and rolling stock by the D&RGW to the two states took place - but to me the REAL Date of Birth of the C&TS is Tuesday, September First, 1970 - when the first shipment of locomotives and rolling stock arrived in Antonito.

Here are a couple of photos from Ernie Robart's vast collection -

Engine #483 and the basis of the first work train en route to Antonito on the morning of 09/01/70:


Note that #483's domes, cab, and tender sides still carried the Tuscan Red paint applied in the fall of 1968 for the movie 'The Good Guys and the Bad Guys'. The air pump & cooling coils, cylinders, handrails and pilot-beam braces were gold,and the counterweights bright red . . .   "Beauty [or ugly] is in the eye of the beholder."
(See [ngdiscussion.net] for the likely inspiration for #483's movie makeup.)

Ernie wasted no time in re-lettering the tender; by evening #483's new ownership was evident:


 

Here's a few more photos, covering the resurrection of the railroad:


This is what we'll be celebrating just a few days early - on August 30, 2010!   (See [ngdiscussion.net].)

- Russo



Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2020 06:59PM by Russo Loco.