Re: Alamosa November 12 1944

“So the extra at 11:55 a.m. gets four K-36s from Chama to Cumbres for 41 loads and one empty, but the 8 p.m. Cumbres turn gets three engines for 18 loads and one empty?
Lawrence Biemiller”

“It does seem odd for first the 4 K-36's to chama, and later three, but is there any mention of the weather that day? Was there snow?
Jimmy, anything on the sheet about that?

Thanks, Bob Foley”

It was a matter of class of power used, amount of tonnage to be moved, and weather conditions. Also, during stock season the need to expedite stock shipments.

Tonnage rating for K-36s eastbound from Chama to Cumbres was 232 tons. That is, one K-36 was rated to move 232 tons from Chama to Cumbres.

First, as to 4 engine trains. The use of 4 K-36s or 4 K-37s on one train was most generally on solid stock trains, in other words the consist would be stock only. I say most generally because it appears there was an exception for the stock movement over Cumbres on this posting date of November 12, 1944. On my original post I showed 41 loads 1 empty out of Chama. I erred, it should read 43 loads 1 empty out of Chama. At Cumbres 17 loads, from the Cumbres turn of Nov 11, were added to make up the 60 loads 1 empty from Cumbres to Alamosa. (I have edited the original post) By my calculation there were 41 cars of stock: the 39 that arrived Chama at 10:25 AM and 2 cars cattle loaded at Chama at 11:15 AM. This would mean when departing Chama 2 cars were not stock.

The tonnage for the 41 cars of stock at Chama ready for east bound movement was more than 3 K-36s could handle, and because stock was involved, a 4th engine was added. Tonnage for this movement out of Chama was 930 tons.

The tonnage for the Cumbres turn later in the evening was 696, which required the use of a third engine.

Cumbres weather at 5:00 PM showed light snow, light southwest wind, temperature 38

Jimmy