Re: Cumbres Turn?

Herb:
<<474 very seldom pulled any kind of varnish except mixed trains to Crested Butte and today we think of that as odd but back then she was just another freighter.>>
According to the Gunnison newspapers and a D&RGW engineer who worked the line, 474 did not become the regular Crested Butte engine until 34 or 35. The Crested Butte run stopped being a mixed in 33 (replaced by a bus). The D&RGW was using 470s on that branch before 34, but mudhens were the usual power until 474 took over. Also, 474 sometimes made runs from Gunnison to Marshall Pass on freights. Otto Perry followed one where 474 worked with two 490s out of Sargents.
But you are correct about 474 not used on passengers. They did not equip it with steam lines for the Shavano and it did not have a plow pilot like the other 470s (didn't need it on the Crested Butte branch as they used wedge gon 09271).
Sure is neat to see 474 with 456 on a very long coal train. Not your normal idea of a K-28.
Happy Holidays