The last Rio Grande flanger & spreader run - 55 years ago today - 1-25-1966
| January 25, 2021 06:00PM |
55 years ago today, on January 25, 1966, the Rio Grande made the final attempt to keep the Alamosa - Farmington line open for freight service in the winter by running a special flanger & spreader work train. In the winter of 1965 - 1966 the Rio Grande had already made two flanger & spreader runs on December 20 - 21 and December 27 -28, both with 487 and 493 (I posted photos of the December 20-21 run earlier)
On December 30 the eastbound freight from Chama derailed engine 493 at Windy point. Helper 488 returned to Chama with the train. Engines 498 and 484 en route from Chama to Durango were recalled to Chama. 484 and 488 then ran to Windy Point and rerailed 493. The three engines then returned to Chama.
On December 31, 484 and 488 ran as a flanger outfit from Chama to Alamosa. I don't know if the flanger outfit took freight cars along.
On January 10, 487 and 484 ran Alamosa to Chama.
On January 11, 487 and 484 made a Chama - Big Horn - Chama turn for snow removal.
On January 12, 487 and 484 ran a work train from Chama to Alamosa
On January 13 - 14, engines 484, 488, and 493 made a regular freight cycle
On January 17 - 18, 487 and 483 made a flanger & spreader turn Alamosa - Chama - Alamosa
On January 25 - 26, 493 and 483 made the fifth flanger & spreader turn for the winter, and the last such turn on the Rio Grande narrow gauge
A couple of years ago I posted photos of this last flanger & spreader turn after Russo Loco had lead me astray into posting on the forum. At that time I did not know about the fine art of spot removal from photos, but I have learned since them. So I am reposting most of these photos cleaned up a bit - my apologies if some of these photos seem familiar . So here we go again (I am reserving the option of reposting these and additional photos in 2026 for the 60th anniversary)
Here are 493 and 483 on the ready track in Alamosa on this 28 degree below zero morning. The cab curtains are understandably closed tightly
My travel partner Nguyen Quang Van, engineering student at New Mexico State, encountered snow for the first time in his life, not to mention -28 degree temperatures!
Here 493 and 483 are barreling down the 3-rail raceway leaving a mile-long trail of dense fog on the parallel roadway
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2021 08:02AM by Olaf Rasmussen.
On December 30 the eastbound freight from Chama derailed engine 493 at Windy point. Helper 488 returned to Chama with the train. Engines 498 and 484 en route from Chama to Durango were recalled to Chama. 484 and 488 then ran to Windy Point and rerailed 493. The three engines then returned to Chama.
On December 31, 484 and 488 ran as a flanger outfit from Chama to Alamosa. I don't know if the flanger outfit took freight cars along.
On January 10, 487 and 484 ran Alamosa to Chama.
On January 11, 487 and 484 made a Chama - Big Horn - Chama turn for snow removal.
On January 12, 487 and 484 ran a work train from Chama to Alamosa
On January 13 - 14, engines 484, 488, and 493 made a regular freight cycle
On January 17 - 18, 487 and 483 made a flanger & spreader turn Alamosa - Chama - Alamosa
On January 25 - 26, 493 and 483 made the fifth flanger & spreader turn for the winter, and the last such turn on the Rio Grande narrow gauge
A couple of years ago I posted photos of this last flanger & spreader turn after Russo Loco had lead me astray into posting on the forum. At that time I did not know about the fine art of spot removal from photos, but I have learned since them. So I am reposting most of these photos cleaned up a bit - my apologies if some of these photos seem familiar . So here we go again (I am reserving the option of reposting these and additional photos in 2026 for the 60th anniversary)
Here are 493 and 483 on the ready track in Alamosa on this 28 degree below zero morning. The cab curtains are understandably closed tightly
My travel partner Nguyen Quang Van, engineering student at New Mexico State, encountered snow for the first time in his life, not to mention -28 degree temperatures!
Here 493 and 483 are barreling down the 3-rail raceway leaving a mile-long trail of dense fog on the parallel roadway
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2021 08:02AM by Olaf Rasmussen.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.