Re: 65th Anniversary of the last San Juans

Five years ago when Wade reminded us of the 60th anniversary the last runs, Jimmy Blouch posted details from the dispatcher's train sheet for that date. I am including that info below. I have added how late the trains were running based on the timetable in effect at the time.

January 31, 1951

Standard gauge Train No. 115, with engine 1705, arrived Alamosa at 5:06 AM. Consist included D&RGW business car 101.

Train No. 215 with engine 488
Conductor Edmisten
Engineer Nissen (to Chama)
Depart Alamosa 7:10 AM (10 mins. late) with 9 cars (65, 164, 325, 326, 312, 310, 319, Alamosa, Chama)
Osier 10:55 AM (1 hr. 10 mins. late)
Cumbres times not shown (Station was closed in April 1950)
Arrive Chama 12:27 PM (1 hr. 17 mins. late), engine 488 off, engine 478 on
Depart Chama 12:35 PM (1 hr. 20 mins. late) (engineer J Connor)
Arrive Gato 3:04 PM (1 hr. 43 mins. late), give car “Chama” to No. 216
Depart Gato 3:45 PM (2 hrs. 24 mins. late) with 8 cars
Arrive Durango 6:30 PM (2 hrs. 25 mins. late)

Conductor Edmisten's delay report shows:
Alamosa 10 minutes transfer
2 hours 30 minutes taking pictures (en route)


Train No. 216 with engine 484
Conductor Hines
Engineer Dieckman (to Chama)
Depart Durango 11:35 AM (20 mins. late) with 7 cars (119, 127, 320, 306, 323, 327, Durango)
Arrive Gato 2:05 PM (16 mins. late), get car “Chama” from No. 215
Depart Gato 3:36 PM (1 hr. 47 mins. late) with 8 cars
Arrive Chama 5:35 PM (1 hr. 35 mins. late), engine 484 off, then back on as helper
Depart Chama 6:05 PM (2 hrs. late) with engine 488, engineer Nissen and helper engine 484, engineer Hall
Cumbres engine 484 depart Cumbres light for Chama
Arrive Alamosa 11:20 PM (2 hrs. 50 mins. late) with 8 cars

I suspect a fair amount of time was spent with the westbound train stopped at the Toltec Gorge, as it would be the last time a schedule passenger train would pass by the gorge in daylight.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2016 10:35AM by Jim McKee.