Re: Alamosa March 9 1945

drgwk37 Wrote:
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> Russ,
>
> From what I understand the major rebuilds and
> major servicing was done at Alamosa--does this
> mean that Salida couldn't do the work? No. I was
> speculating that the use of the 490 west of
> Alamosa was because it was a break in type run
> after servicing, but it could have just been due
> to a power shortage and it was available to make
> the run. I don't know if Salida or Alamosa did
> the work on the 492 after it had it's roll over
> near Mears Jct--if you've ever seen pics of it
> after that it's surprising it still exists today.
> Just as an example I know when the 37's were built
> they were shipped to Alamosa for the final
> completion of the build. I think the shops in
> Alamosa were more extensive than that of Salida.
>
> William
> aka drgwk37

William:

492 was rebuilt in Alamosa after the runaway on Poncha Pass in 1935. I have completed an article on that wreck and will get it published some day.

The D&RGW did all major repair work on the narrow gauge engines in Alamosa. The Salida shops did a lot of work earlier, but the Salida shop did not have some equipment that Alamosa did. A D&RGW engineer told me that even in the 20s, he would have to take his engine to from Gunnison to Alamosa for major work. He didn't like to do that as he had to stay in Alamosa until the work was done. Guess the idea of getting paid to sit around did not appeal to him when he had to be away from his family.

Jerry Day