When I visited the ng. during the early 60's, the "Cumbres turn" routine appeared fairly consistent. Twice per week a long eastbound train would arrive Chama from Durango. The next day the Alamosa crews would switch the lumber mills in Chama, and pull the loads from Gramps loading rack. Then with two engines they would take two cuts (Cumbres turns) up the hill, with the helper cut in ahead of the caboose, and then return to Chama for a second night. The following day they would take a third cut up the hill, the helper would then run light to Alamosa, and the road engine would put together the three cuts and hauled a 60-70 car train to Alamosa.
Later in the 60's this pattern became more erratic as traffic further declined. Often all the traffic could go up the hill in only two cuts, and on really slow days only one engine could handle everything.
I was not there in the busier days of the 50's, but with a helper based in Chama three engine Chama turns were apparently common. The special instructions specified that two engines would go on the point and one ahead of the caboose. But from the pictures the Grande clearly. experimented with various engine placement schemes (presumably to minimize pulled drawbars...or worse).
One question I have is whether the Grande ever regularly ran doubleheaded two engine freight trains up the 4 percent (with the big engines). I can find no special instructions prohibiting it, but all the pictures of doubleheaded freights I have seen appear to be three engine trains. I believe there are pictures of the San Juan passenger doubleheaded up the grade.
Clearly they doubleheaded the three engine trains, with the third engine pushing (which surprises me since it would have better spread drawbar stress if the two engines had been cut into the train with only one on the point).
