I can only speak for a few visits in the 60's (which was after the derailment that resulted in the instruction not to doublehead down grade from Chama to Gato and Falfa to Durango, eastbound was okay). The trains I saw in most cases had two engines and both engines ran through in both directions, with the second engine running light ahead of the train westbound on some sections. Westbound, depending on tonnage, the second engine might or might not help from Chama to Azotea, and then run light to Gato where it would wait and then doublehead to Falfa, and then run light to Durango. Most of the eastbound trains I saw had the engines run coupled through from Durango to Chama. However, as business dropped things changed, and I chased an eastbound in 1967 that lost its helper a Falfa and presumably the helper ran tender first back to Durango but I was headed east. The time table shows Y's at Gato and Lumberton although I never saw them used. I'm sure others can add more detail and different situations.
JBWX
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2015 12:17AM by John West.