Answered my own question

The tri-color herald and the all boxcar consist does not look right for 1986. My fading memory is drawing a blank on this trip. Can anyone hold my hand and give me some idea of what might be going on here? Maybe the boxcar consist reflects some kind of fall color special, but I don't see any fall color. Or maybe this was just before all the new passenger stock went into service, but 1986 seems late in the game for that.

Addendum: Answering my own questions, I got out my trusty well used copy of Ticket to Toltec. Even though it was a 1991 edition, it answered some of the questions. The tri-colored herald was indeed in use around 1986, and the new coaches were built around that time. So it does fit the 1986 time frame. Then I dug out my file of old C&TS memorabilia and found papers for a September 15, 1986 narrow gauge convention special as well as a September 13 Jim Trowbridge charter. So I'm guessing I visited Chama to ride the Trowbridge special and hung around to chase the convention special. If the train in my picture was a special that would go a long way toward explaining the boxcar consist. It is frustrating not being able to remember that stuff, but it is fun digging through the "evidence" in my drawers and reconstructing what I must have done.

JBWX



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2015 02:27PM by John West.