Re: #483 - better Running in Durango than Rusting in Chama

Eddy Sand Wrote (approximately):
-------------------------------------------------------
> #483 is not just another K-36.  It she SAVED THE
> RAILROAD and it's unfortunate that time has taken
> such a toll on the locomotive.  Nobody [(?)] wants to
> see it her leave Chama.


Locomotive #483 did NOT "save the Railroad" -

Dedicated HUMAN BEINGS saved the railroad — Terry Ross and 'Chili' John Pritchard and Ken Pruitt and CO Rep. Clarence Quinlan and NM Gov. Dave Cargo (and my friends Ernie Robart & Jeff Stebbins & Richard Braden) and all of the other people named on the memorial plaques dedicated at the 40th Anniversary Celebration in August, 2010.  As noted on [ngdiscussion.net], the following PEOPLE saved the railroad:

"A BIG Thank You to everyone whose faith and commitment lives on today as The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

Late 1960’s and Early 1970's MAJOR VOLUNTEERS:
Ken Green, Alamosa, CO
Herman Barkmann, Santa Fe, NM
Dick Glass, Santa Fe, NM
John Pritchard, Los Alamos, NM
George Swain, Los Alamos, NM
Dan Pyzel, Albuquerque, NM
Ben Greathouse, Alamosa, CO
Allen Stevenson, Durango, CO
Arthur Pugh, Albuquerque, NM
Sid McKinney, Amarillo, TX
Rich Braden, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Virgil & Mavis Bockhaus, Monte Vista, CO
Bob Burggraaf, Beulah, CO
John Oldberg, Colorado Springs, CO
Hugh Fowler, Denver, CO
Clarence Quinlan, Antonito, CO
Ken Pruitt, Albuquerque, NM
Clay Bair, Albuquerque, NM
Mike Mitchell, Albuquerque, NM
Dan Romero, Albuquerque, NM
Mike Carr, Chicago, IL,
Woody Wilson, Chicago, IL,
Alan Stevens, Albuquerque, NM
Dave Wood, Albuquerque, NM
Jeff Stebbins, Taos, NM
Eddie Vigil, Chama, NM
Swede Johnson, Antonito, CO
Mark McMahon, Los Alamos, NM
Janet Berenda, Santa Fe, NM
Gov. Dave Cargo - Santa Fe, NM
John Mershon, Cloudcroft, NM
Local Residents - Chama, NM, & Antonito, CO
Financial contributors - World wide"

Locomotive #483 happened to be near the front of the line when the D&RGW delivered the initial load of equipment to the fledgling C&TS on September 1, 1970, but #484 was in nearly as good condition and could have been used instead had the D&RGW placed her near the front of the first day's deliveries, so it's just a coincidence that #483 was available during September & October of that first year to move cars and locomotives out of Antonito to make room for the construction of the first crude yard and much-needed wye.

Volunteers in Action — Me 'n' m' dawg Nikki 'n' Eddie Martinez* — and locomotive #483,10/16/70:

Photo by Wm. F. Hunter, Esq.   Copyright © 1970, 2005 by R. B. Sperry - All Rights Reserved.

Locomotive #483 also powered the last excursion out of Durango in 1966, and the last real freight into Durango and last delivery of revenue freight into Farmington in late August, 1968, as well as the last "passenger" train out of Durango – the NPS Special in November, 1968 – so she has just as much historic significance to the D&SNG as she has to the C&TS.

Please don't say "nobody" when you haven't checked with "everybody" who cares about and has invested time and/or money in #483 (or – more likely – "anybody" else).  Roger Hogan and I spent a LOT of effort in the early 2000's raising money for the restoration of #483; Tom Gildersleeve, John West and Ernie Robart the allowed use of their fabulous photos from the early and mid-sixties in support of this project.  Nevertheless, we – along with several others who have put considerable time into the preservation and cosmetic restoration of #483 – agree wholeheartedly with C&TS CEO John Bush's very strong recommendation to the Commission a couple of years ago that #483 be traded for a K-28.  Should this opportunity surface again, I for one would again agree with John.

IMHO, the historic mission of the C&TS would be well served by the acquisition of a K-28, and locomotive #483 would be FAR better off Running in Durango than Rusting in Chama.    

- Russell B. Sperry / Roosso de los Locos / El Instigatador

*  Eddie was actually the C&TS first employee, beating out Rich Braden (employee2) by just a few days.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2018 11:13PM by Russo Loco.