Re: Stormy Cumbres turns November 23, 1966

Sharrod Wrote:
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> Q: why are there two cabees?

Could be because one was left on the cars they left at Cumbres and one was taken with one of the engines back to Chama.
Remember in his comments Olaf stated they did an afternoon "Hill Turn" to complete the movement of freight to Cumbres. So the other caboose was probably used
for the second part of the train going from Chama to Cumbres. At that point two things could have happened. (1) The caboose was added to the end of the train at Cumbres
and with both sections of freight the road engine took all of it east to Alamosa, with the helper engine running ahead light. (2) The helper engine kept the caboose from the second
hill turn, and (a) Returned to Chama with it, or more likely took the caboose with it light to Alamosa ahead of the main train. This would have meant less switching at Cumbres as well.

I have also witnessed 2 cabooses on a train from Chama to Alamosa. It was the first eastbound from Chama on June 5, 1968. I have posted photos of this on the board. 483 was the road
engine and 493 was back as the helper with two cabooses behind it. At Cumbres the 493 was cut out and it ran light without a caboose, and 483 followed with the train and two cabooses. I have seen
other trains with 2 of them as well at various times in films we have acquired.

My guess is the Olaf freight of 1966 was like the one we did in 1968, with the helper running light, with a caboose because of the winter conditions, and less switching at Cumbres. Thats what I would have done,
but that doesn't mean much really!
Greg

PS Here is the 493 at Cresco on the train we shot on June 5, 1968, with the 2 cabooses behind it.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2019 09:12AM by Greg Scholl.