Background

According to Bob Richardson the D&RGW, I believe in the early 50's, set out on a campaign to prepare the line between Antonito and Chama for conversion to standard gauge.

Many of the trestles were strengthened to allow the heavier weight, but Loboto was not included, and the Cascade trestle was too long and too high for successful conversion. Obviuously the strategy shifted from conversion to abandonment and there was never any further discussion of it.

As these trestles were not built for the ponderous weight of the large K Class locomotives, it was determined that at certain locations, such as Loboto and Cascade, there could be no coupled doubleheading.

It was later noted in the D&RGW's petition for abandonment that the cost of upgrading or replacing these two structures not only for conversion to standard gauge, but also for daily safe operation was prohibitavly high. Some have even speculated that the entire process of considering standard gauging the line was nothing more than a way to lay groundwork to later use as a reason to abandon the line. Which happened.

It would be great to be able to talk to anyone who was working with the railroad during that time for additional background, but the reasons for these rules are well known.