Hi,
Any portion of the historic freight car fleet that could be protected during the winter would mean reducing maintenance costs. Maybe in Antonito.
Come to think of it, I suspect but do not know that equipment in Antonito needs less frequent maintenance than that of Chama. It is sort of like the storage of USAF and other airplanes in the Arizona desert. I do not mean to store all in Antonito, but maybe one freight train's worth. Heck of the SL&RG stores SG cars, maybe there's room for some narrow gauge tracks to be relaid/laid in Antonito and a dual gauge track to reach it.
Maybe build a SG track in the Antonito Yard for car storage and dual gauge a portion of the old mainline up to the 1st SG switch so that NG cars could be stored there and not require a dual gauge switch, just a NG switch to reach it. If Antonito wanted NG access to the old D&RGW station, maybe some sort of joint effort could be worked out. Then occasional use of the Antonito Depot could be used by special trains.
Although It changes the looks of the Antonito yard and departure historically speaking, adding another storage track west of Antonito would also work.
As far as Chama goes, a second track off the wye turning track with a car shed on it might also be possible without changing the historic feel of the Chama yards. During the summer it might be used as a covered repair facility for the Friend's work sessions.
Just some thoughts.
Doug vV
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/2017 01:46PM by dougvv.