Earl,
I ran the 481 during its first week of revenue operation, and I think Rich followed me the second week. I believe we may have been assigned to the 481 for the first weeks since we were the only engineers on the D&S at that time with prior K36 experience. During those first weeks of operation of the 481, management was experimenting, trying to determine the practical maximum tonnage for a K36. Fourteen, and even fifteen were hauled, however, it was generally agreed that thirteen was a reasonable maximum.
The K28s pulled 10 coaches and a boxcar every day, and that was about all they wanted. I remember my first solo trip as engineer in early June of 1981, after a week of student trips to learn the road, as 476 bit fully into the grade above Hermosa, thinking to myself, "We're not going to make it!". But, after lugging down to about 8 mph or so, the K28s would just keep pulling.
We always hated seeing the green (Nomad) and the red (Cinco Animas), also known affectionately as the Gonad and Stinko, in the consist because of the additional weight, as you mentioned.