The 487 had helped out of Durango but returned to Durango from Falfa. From Falfa to Arboles is was mostly downhill, although with a couple of short uphill segments including where the 497 is in the picture. Where it would get interesting is east of Arboles where the climb to Chama started, and especially on the 2 percent around Monero. The picture was taken in 1967 when things were starting to wind down on the ng. so perhaps part of the train was set out somewhere west of Chama. Or perhaps an engine was sent west from Chama to help. The next I saw of this train was east out of Chama and it did not have the long line of flats. The next days operation from Chama to Alamosa was unusual in that a relatively short train ran through from Chama to Alamosa, with a helper up the hill. To the best of my recollection no Cumbres turns were run. The train over Cumbres had two cabooses and if I remember correctly was the train that had a bunch of folks from Trains magazine on it.
JBWX