Re: Re-laying the dual gauge in Antonito ...

"If the dual-gauge wye were replicated, it would have to
include the "draw"* which moved the third rail from one side to the other - this in itself would make
an interesting museum display."

In looking at the above picture I cannot see the south leg of the wye and, when I was there in 2005, I took pictures of some of the ties in the north leg but neglected to take any of the south leg ties and cannot remember if there was evidence of narrow gauge spikes in the south leg or not. If there was no dual gauge in the south leg then a "draw" would not have been necessary.

As I understand, passenger trains coming from Santa Fe simply joined the one from Durango and headed on to Alamosa. Also, I doubt if much, if any, freight, would use the south leg of the wye because freight would be between Santa Fe and Alamosa and Farmington/Durango/Chama and Alamosa.

I may totally wrong and there was narrow gauge on the south leg but it doesn't look to me like it would be needed except if maybe a narrow gauge locomotive needed to be turned around. Even then maybe the wyes at Big Horn and a few miles down the Chili line would be sufficient.