Re: D&RG narrow guage auto haulers?

Just a guess, Roger, but since railroad rates were regulated, I'd assume that a Detroit shipper could "insist" on an all-rail rate to anywhere on a common carrier, and the ICC would enforce it. So even if the service was a financial dog, D&RGW would have to provide it.
Any car bought in Durango (assuming there was a car dealership there in the 1920s), for example, would pretty much have to come in by rail.
One more guess: that auto purchases by "mail order" was somewhat common in an era where there were few dealers, and (like Montgomery Ward goods or Sears kit homes) delivery was via boxcar to the nearest team track.
JAC