Re: more early 50's Durango pics

I believe that I have found a close approximate date for these great pictures Matt has posted. During a conversation with Earl about the line side, sidelined caboose on the Farmington Branch, he mentioned that he remembered seeing something of this nature in Richardson's "Narrow Gauge News". I thought I'd look in the specific date range and I found it in the issue "June 1956, #66".

Quote

"A shortage of cabooses resulted in the hauling of #0585 June 2 from Salida, its arrival being timely account the previous day a Farmington crew had upset theirs."

So apparently the accident happened on June 1, 1956. I doubt it was there on it's side for long...

Also found in the "Narrow Gauge News" from October, 1955, #59...

Quote

#315 won't be repainted until spring, but its back in its display spot at Durango, a puzzle to all with its Central Pacific label. The Indians went back to farming, and the passenger cars are at Durango yard and likely to spend the winter there.

With all the information available, I am assuming that the pictures that Matt posted of his friend's Uncle's trip were taken sometime in June of 1956.

Also while perusing the "News" for this information, I also discovered that the gas plant SE of Durango was being built and some of the large tanks "coming through Toltec tunnel" were consigned to Oxford. The siding had been lengthened to accommodate the oil traffic loads. I believe that these were some of the tanks that the "flat car load templates" were built for. I'm now wondering if some of these tanks are still on site at the gas plant? Something else to casually investigate!

Thanks Earl for spurring me on to dig a little! Thanks Matt (again) for posting these great pictures! The train sheets for the cleanup operation would be an interesting read!

Ray Loose
Durango, Colorado