There are some interesting changes in the consist between ALA and DUR and back. The first shot of the train in front of Ala depot shows a baggage, 6 vestibule coaches and a parlor car. This shot looks to be taken the afternoon before departure. The next day shows an open platform coach added to the train behind the baggage. Going to Silverton, the open platform coach and parlor car were set out and the Silver Vista added to the rear. For the trip back to ALA, the Silver Vista stayed behind in DUR, but the open platform and parlor car came back into the train.
I can see the Silver Vista staying in Durango as it was part of the Painted Train consist to Silverton. Setting out the one coach and parlor car seems odd. I would not think tonnage would be a problem. 9 cars to Silverton should not have been over tonnage for a 470. The Grande ran 12 car trains to Silverton for years.
As to the condition of the cars, I think this was the first excursion run after the San Juan came off. The RRMRRC's first trip was later that year in the fall. The cars were still in their "San Juan" finery. It is known the car foreman was very proud and somewhat obsessive of HIS passenger train and by hook and crook did everything he could to keep the cars looking sharp, despite having less than no budget from Denver. I have heard that the ALA car shop did lots of contract car repair for American Refrigerator Transport "ART" and had a substantial budget for that work. The foreman would quietly divert money from the ART budget to buy paint for the San Juan passenger cars.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2016 09:35AM by Earl.