Re: D&SNG in the early Days

The arrival of the 493, 498, 499 and 480 was a pretty big deal. After getting the three 470’s in operation in May, June and July of 1981 and the 481 being looked at, we in the shop were desperate for more appliances (dynamos, air pumps, etc). Mr. Bradshaw made it clear about the possibility of operating one of the 490’s. As the 493 sat in the parking lot waiting to be unloaded, the superintendent told the roundhouse foreman that nothing was to be removed from the locomotive. As the foreman distracted the superintendent, Bernie Watts and I carefully climbed onto the 493 and removed the dynamo. It was off the locomotive before it was even unloaded. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Here is a shot of the 493 after unloading and spotted on the sand house lead. That is the 481 on the right, prior to rebuild.

The 493 after unloading in Durango.