Re: Two differnt trains???

Russo Loco Wrote:
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> Hi, Kevin -
>
> Good point - and sharp eyes!
>
> My notes from Tom simply say "Flanger Train,
> Antonito to Chama to Alamosa, March, 1963."
> Is it possible that this train cleared the siding
> at Lobato, and then switched the order of the
> snow-fighting equipment? Rich's photo clearly
> shows the front of a flanger - NOT the spreader -
>
> immediately behind #480, and the third one I
> posted clearly shows the spreader right behind
> the helper. It's also possible that Tom sent me
> photos of two different eastbound trains - both
> with eight tank cars - but he did not indicate
> this in his notes.
>
> - Russ
Russ:
I do not have detailed train operations from 63 from dispatcher books or train registers, but a number of flanger/spreader trains were run in 62, 63, and 64 using 480 and 483. 483 was equipped with a plow pilot, so was always in the lead. Jim Barton's father also photographed some of these trains and the consist varied. Normally the trains would come out of Alamosa with the spreader and flanger behind the second engine. At Alamosa, the train was switched so that the flanger (usually OL) was behind the first engine and Spreader OU behind the second. Tom sent me a scan of one of his slides showing 480 preparing to couple onto the tank cars and it clearly shows the flanger behind 480 with the spreader behind the flanger followed by the two cabooses.

Jerry Day