Re: Just got off a coal train from Crested Butte

Not true, and a common 'urban legend' of narrow gauge. The 'split' stakes are extensions put on in 1924 to increase the four-board height stakes to five-board height. In this manner, the D&RGW didn't have to replace perfectly good side stakes when adding the fifth board in the 1924 rebuild. Notice if you will that the split stakes are the intermediate stakes, not the main support stakes at corners and over the queenposts and the original stake is not cut off randomly but goes precisely to the top of the fourth board. Also, the period photos show the stake splices long before there was a barrel loader at Salida.
Barrel loader damage was normally limited to denting of the top side boards and almost never damaged the stakes.