Re: Durango switcher

guymonmd Wrote:
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> Does anyone know when she last operated in
> Durango?

50 was still being used in 1968 with what appeared to be a regularly assigned switch crew. With the installation of the new (at the time) loop, the returning Silverton trains turned and stopped to unload their passengers facing north and ready to depart the next morning. The only somewhat daily work done by #50 and crew was to switch the business cars on the rear of the train. I suspect that as long as there were freights to be run east - no matter how infrequent - there was a switch crew on duty. I have pics in an album of 50 switching the B3 on the rear of the train in August, 1968..

By 1969, 50 was parked on a stub track off the Durango Turntable while the road engine and crew did the evening switching before tying up for the day.

In 1970, #50 went to California to work for the Roaring Camp & Big Trees.