Re: Rio Grande Southern

What you have is the Nolan Black organized excursion for the L.A. "Railroad Boosters" (also known as the Pacific Railroad Society.)
This trip was covered in the book "Narrow Gauge Railway Scenes" by Adolf Hungry Wolf, with photos by Ward Kimball. It started in Alamosa on July 16, 1947, with extra cars and the Silver Vista hauled behind the regular San Juan with #473. The next day the extra cars went to Silverton behind the regular mixed train with #463. The following day RGS #20 hauled the cars (less the Silver Vista) to Rico, and was exchanged for #455 for the heavy grades to Ridgway. Ward Kimball (along with his wife Betty) described this to be the best excursion he had ever experienced on a narrow gauge railroad.

Maybe Jimmy Blouch can find the train sheets for July 16 and 17, 1947 on the D&RGW showing the extra cars.

Pictures from the RGS portion have also appeared in many of the RGS books.

Hank Porter