Re: D&RGW 470s: differences over time and between units

They might have been put on because D&RGW trains were starting fires on ranches around Gunnison.

Gunnison News Champion
October 8, 1936, Thursday
SPARKS FROM TRAIN SET HAYSTACK
AFIRE, OVER 10 ACRES BURN
60 tons of hay in the stack and about 10 acres of hay land burned over on the Gene Estry ranch north of Gunnison last Thursday; origin being sparks from a D&RGW coal train.
The train went thru the ranch toward Crested Butte about 10 oclock in the morning. Just before noon the fire was discovered, and before enough help could be summoned to make any headway against it, the hay and field were burned. It was 2:30 before it was brought under control.

The day of the fire the Crested Butte train had 474 and 471. But 479 was also used as Crested Butte helper engine during the layover of the passenger train in Gunnison.

D&RGW Alamosa Division Dispatcher Book
October 6, 1936, Tuesday
Crested Butte branch
Train No. 347 and Train No. 348 with engine 474 and helper engine 471

D&RGW Alamosa Division Dispatcher Book
November 13, 1936,
Crested Butte branch
Train No. 347 and Train No. 348 with engine 474 and helper engine 479