* Fuzzy Pics - And Sharp Answers from Ernie

Ernie Robart Wrote (In an e-mail):
========================================
Hey Russo,

After doing a little researching of my NG notes, I submit
the following: (You can post on NGDF if you wish!)

Engine 497 was not in operation until July, 1967, when
it was released from the Alamosa Shops after a Class 3
rebuild.  In your photos, engine 493 has a newly painted
smokebox.  That was done in early August, 1967.   So...
I think your moldy photos of 493 & 497 going up Cumbres
were taken on August 29, 1967.

Sounds good to me, Ernie - That was nearly 50 years ago, so it's quite possible that I didn't get those &*(^%$)! 2X and 3X extenders 'til 1967.  I know the blurry slides I took of #498 are dated 1967 - and #498 was helper to another K-37 - and there were two cabeese - so it was probably the same train chased all the way from Antonito to Osier to Chama - on 08/28/67 (see [ngdiscussion.net]).   Now I have to go looking for the rest of my 1967 slides, which were not good enough to put in my "For Projection" tray for sharing with others ...

I met Olaf late in August, 1966.  He was hitching a ride
on a NG frieght train.  Do you think you were chasing the
D&RGW in August of each of three years: 1966, 1967 and
1968??

Ah-yup.  I was in Narrow Gauge Country in August of 1962, '64, '66, '67, and '68, in addition to riding the three-day excursions in June of 1960 and September and/or October of 1962, '64, and '66.  I remember you and Olaf and me and my friend(s) sitting on a hill overlooking the S-curves and watching a freight stall in the weeds - which I thought was after the subsidence in 1966 - but I probably returned the next year and took more photos in the same location.

I have some details of the first train to Farmington early
in August, 1966, after the subsided fill was repaired. I will
type those for you directly from my notes in a future email.

Wes Pfarner showed me your donation of your original slides
of the last NG revenue freight train from August 28, 1968.
That was a pleasant surprise!! The Friends will take good
care of your donation!!

Best wishes,
Ernie R.


THANK YOU, Ernie -

Even though it means an hour or two of editing previous posts ...

AND - thanks to your book* - I have also pinned down the date of two other pics posted a few days ago.  On pages 67 & 68 you have photos of #492 as road engine and #483 as helper on a freight pulling out of Chama eastbound on August 26 - the same two engines I caught as road engine and helper stopped for water and lunch at Gato in late August, 1966 - undoubtedly the same train on the previous day, August 25.    

- Roosso

p.s.  Compare the last photo on [ngdiscussion.net], above, with the one on page 23 of the May, 2015 Trains ...    

pps.  I'm tentatively planning to be back in Chama the last ten days or so of September - hope to see you then!

*  'Rio Grande Narrow Gauge - The Final Years, Alamosa to Chama'  by Joseph P. Hereford Jr. and Ernest W. Robart.
    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!    

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2015 02:33PM by Russo Loco.