Grades West of Chama

Unlike the railroad west of Antonito which followed the valley of the Rio de Los Pinos to the summit of Cumbres Pass, then followed Wolf Creek/Chama River to Chama, the line west of Chama crossed 5 river drainages. From Chama it followed the Chama/Willow Creek drainage to where it crossed the Continental Divide, then followed Amargo Creek/Navajo River/San Juan River to Arboles. From Arboles, they climbed up out of the San Juan Valley and dropped down to the Los Pinos (Pine) River at La Boca, followed the Pine R. north then over the hill into the Florida River Valley. From there, it was up and over Florida Mesa, then down into the Animas River Valley.

From Chama west, the grade to the summit of the Continental Divide was 1% with a few downgrades of 1.42%. This would have been the hardest pull a one engine train would have had to deal with. If the train was maximum tonnage for the 1.42% west out of Chama, it would have needed to be doublehead up the 1% to Azotea. From the Divide it was down hill 1.0% to 2.0% all the way to Arboles, with a couple of short upgrades of .99% near Lumberton and some 1.27% between Carracas and Arboles. From Arboles it was a 1.42% roller coaster to the top of the hill at Tiffany, where they dropped down 1.42% to La Boca. From La Boca, it was another 1.42% climb with a 1.42% downhill sag through Oxford to the top of the hill just east of Florida, when they dropped down 1.42% to Florida. After Florida, was the last stretch of 1.42% to the top of Florida Mesa at Falfa. From Falfa began the 2% drop down into the Animas Valley at Carbon Jct. From Carbon Jct., it was a 1.14% grade up along the river to Durango Yard.

The construction of the line around Navajo Reservoir would have changed the profile between Carracas and Allison somewhat. I have never seen a profile of the RR after the relocation was put in. But, as the railroad was placed further up the side of the valley, the grades should have been reduced.

If anyone is wondering about the magic of the number "1.42%", the Rio Grande and others used this gradient a lot. It works out to a climb of 75 feet per mile.

EDIT: I just found a 1966 profile that I did not know I had...... After the relocation was put in, the grade westbound was descending 1.20% to the Piedra River near Arboles, then 1.0% upgrade to the connection with the original alignment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2018 02:23PM by Earl.