Re: Eastbound San Juan at Chama

At Chama one spout on the water tank is on the main. Until Ed raised the issue and I checked some pix, I would have sworn that the coaling was on a yard track. But this PIC suggests the coal shute is on the mainline. So maybe the normal routine eastbound was to pull up (probably with the train, and after the scheduled departure time) and top off the coal and take water before actually leaving town. I say with the train, because presumably uncoupling and then making up the air, steam and signal lines would be a pain. But as the picture indicates, obviously the engine at least occasionally was taken off for whatever reason.

JBWX