Re: Two trains at Mears Junction, MANY years ago/the Bermuda Triangle of the DRGW narrow guage

Let me see if I have this correct. From the NW (top) to the SE we have the Valley Line along Poncha Creek. There is nearly a 3 way junction, one being the Marshall Pass line that comes over the Valley Line and then curves back to the north towards the pass, the other one being the spur in question. So far so good...but what is this line that runs NW from the house to the to the southern end of the curve to the Marshall Pass line? Was this a direct route from Alamosa to Marshall Pass bypassing Salida. And why would Salida be bypassed...I always thought that the Valley Line was more of a convience to run equipment between Alamosa & Salida and picking up any local traffic en route and not part of any through route. I thought that the whole idea of the narrow guage was to funnel traffic off the system as soon as possible to standard guage at Montrose, Salida and Montrose. Also by the time an engine would reach this point from Alamosa it would be in dire need of servicing at Salida rather than taking a hard right at the pass & head towards Gunnison . Finally, that line from the house to the southern end of the curve would seem to to be might steep.
Or do I have all of this ### backwards. Back in 1979 with no detail maps beyond Ormes Ghost Railways I tried to figure Mears Junction out. Between THICK brush, ground disturbance & a lot of barbed wire & No Trespassing signs (and a lot of people on the road looking at me) I had to give it up.
So Mears Junction has always been a mystery to me.
Any ideas?

The Other Hank
Husker Hank
Durango CO