Re: 473's Bumblebee Paint

The 473 and a few coaches were adorned with the "Rio Grande Gold" scheme early in 1950 for the promotion of the 1950 Silverton season. The success of "Ticket to Tomahawk" was anticipated to be a strong boost that year for the line. The June of 1950 issue of Heflin's and Richardson's Narrow Gauge News proclaimed...."The D&RGW in an unprecedented move, after urging by Durangoans, particularly Mrs. Marguerita Clark is preparing a specially painted train for use on the Silverton Branch this summer with trips on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting June 18. H.F. Eno, General Passenger Agent is credited with pushing the project. The combine used in the movie and three old style coaches are being painted a bright yellow with black trim at the Alamosa coach shop. In the engine shop 473 passenger engine is being fitted with big dummy stack and square headlight, plus a loud paint job. Crews are working overtime to get the train out." The August 1950 issue notes the train's success (most trips with nearly 200 aboard) and adds..."Some amusement noted in railroad circles when an Alamosa paper quoted the Supt. that the engine to be used would be restored to its 'original 1890 appearance.' Most railroaders chuckled that would be quite a restoring job considering the engine had been built in 1923. The engine has one of the ugliest sounding whistles on the system , which an 1890 engineer would promptly throw away."
The 473 continued various service in the "loud paint job" between Silverton and Alamosa
until July 1951, at which time Engineer Dieckman found himself and 473 nosed into the water's edge at MP 483.7, just south of Needleton siding. The train was headed downgrade with a train of ore concentrates and hit a sun kink. My 1952 Durango crew call book (Dec. 20 1951 to Aug. 8th 1952) doesn't show the 473 in Durango again until July 3, 1952 called for a Farmington turn. The only thing left of the tourist configuration was the two brass bands around the sand dome which lasted (hidden under the grime) until ,if I recall correctly, the roundhouse fire in Durango, 1989.
Enough of this novel! Hope it helps.