Frank,
In answer to your question between 1990 (my first winter in Chama) and 1996 (my last winter in Chama) the OY was used 4 times. 0Y was used in 91,93,94,and 95. In 95 it broke a "half axle connecting the left side fly wheel to the bevel gear. At the same time the cylinder head on that side was broken. A new axle and cylinder head were made and applied between May 95 and April of 96. During that time we also rebuilt the super structure. The wooden superstructure frame was replaced with channel steel and nailers were bolted into the channels. Tongue and groove siding was milled and nailed on to replace the old siding. The result was that it had a stronger body than before but visually looked the same as it did during the "Rio Grande" days. At that time we painted it MOW gray and lettered it. It was ready to operate in 96 but the snow pack didn"t justify its use.
Jack Campbell who was my Master Mechanic while I was CMO became CMO when I went to Alaska. He was in charge when 0Y was used in 97. Other than one bearing running hot which he said would need a little adjustment It operated well in 97. Any rebuilding it would require now is due to the neglect of having not been used or cared for in the last 12 years.
I know there has been much comment that the rotaries should not be used again, or if so only in mid winter when the snow is fresh and not packed down. I disagree. Rotary plows were used in blizzard, drift, and avalanche conditions on Cumbres, Marshall, Boreas, Lizard Head, White Pass, Corona, Tennesse, and Donner for years. It is worthy of note that the axle that broke on the 0Y had a date stamp of 1939 on it if I recall correctly. Remember the the machine was new in 1925, and there is no reason to believe that the 1939 axle was the first replacement. These parts did break and were replaced on a continuing basis during the life of these machines. If one looks at the reports there are frequent references to snow fighting being interupted because the plows had broken down. "Service em like they serviced em, ues em like they used em, and fix em like they fixed em." To my way of thinking that is the way to preserve and interpret both the product and the process that was the historic railroad.
John Bush
PS Before I came to Chama they had removed 25 tubes from the OM's boiler for inspection. We did not work on it while I was there so I have no useful information to contribute on that subject.
