Greg Scholl Wrote:
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> With 453 I would guess late 1940's. Was Bob
> Richardson even around those parts that early?
>
Construction started on the Narrow Gauge Motel at Alamosa in the Fall of 1948, with opening in the late Spring(June?) of 1949. Bob Richardson had also made several earlier trips to Colorado after WWII.
In the early 1950's (1951?) Mr. Richardson used his pictures to get runs of several B&W postcards printed, mainly because he was ticked off at the lack of promotion of the Silverton, and some other attitudes of the D&RGW managment. IIRC this was right after 361 was scrapped.
He got the cards placed for sale at various local outlets, although there was some of the usual "who cares about that old train" response. They sold well and were reprinted at least once.
Again IIRC, he said there were no post cards of the narrow gauge for sale at this time.
The whole story is in one (or more) of his books but I'm feeling too lazy to go dig it out right now.
hank