Re: photo shopped VW beetle question by Russo: I was indeed driving the tan beetle shown in the photo of the last ng revenue freight. Only it was my brother's beetle. By 1968 I was working in Washington state. When I heard about the freight from Ernie Robart, I made immediate plans to be there. My travel log shows me departing at 4:15 pm on August 24, 1968 on Southern Pacifics "Cascade" for Oakland. After some time riding cable cars in San Francisco I boarded the "San Francisco Chief" in Richmond at
4:30 pm, arriving at Belen at 3:45 pm on August 26, transferring to Train 24 at 5:15 pm with arrival in Albuquerque at 5:59 pm. My dad met me in Albuqerque and we headed for Alamosa on August 27 in the tan beetle.We were not aware of the August 27 Durango-Gato turn by 498. On August 28 we chased 483 and 484 to Chama, taking movies in the Big Horn Sublette area, then filmed 498 eastbound at Azotea. On the 29th we filmed 483 departing Chama westbound then followed 498 and 484 to Cumbres, and 498 as far as the loops west of Big Horn. We then filmed 484 passing the La Jara depot and racing toward Alamosa for the lastime. Missed the last
run to Farmington because I had to catch the San Francisco Chief, Cascade, and Empire Builder back to Pasco, WA. So the VW in the 483-484 shot is my brother's beetle, but the Antonito beetle is not, since we went straight to La Jara.