Re: Adventures on the Narrow Gauge, June '63 to June '64
| April 02, 2020 04:01PM |
Continuing the chase of 492 and 487 to Cumbres on Wednesday, September 4, 1963 with J. David Conrad and friend - -
492 is approaching the Coxo crossing
487 is shoving hard on the string of 8 heavy GRAMPS oil tankers at the back of the train. It was the Chama oil traffic that kept at least the east end of the narrow gauge operating consistently when the pipe traffic was slow.
492 took water at the Cumbres stand pipe before pulling forward over the crest, cutting out the helper, and with caboose re-attached, headed for Alamosa. 487 turned on the wye and returned to Chama. The next day 487 would double head with 484 to Cumbres ahead of the Intermountain Express charter excursion.
We followed 492 to Los Pinos before heading to Antonito. This was my first car chase of a Rio Grande narrow gauge freight. Ultimately there would be many more. If my memory serves me correctly, we paced 492 from Antonito to Alamosa on the 3-rail race way, but after 57 years I am no longer absolutely certain. In any event, we drove from Alamosa to Walsenburg where my new found friends dropped me off at the Colorado & Southern depot to await the arrival of train 7, just 48 hours after having left it, as they continued their journey to Chicago. I am still grateful that they rescued me from a dubious adventure and turned into an unforgettable adventure. And I still had the key ingredients for a safe return home - my train ticket to Alamogordo and 25 cents that I invested in a Fig Newton
bar as sustenance until dinner at home on the following day.
492 is approaching the Coxo crossing
487 is shoving hard on the string of 8 heavy GRAMPS oil tankers at the back of the train. It was the Chama oil traffic that kept at least the east end of the narrow gauge operating consistently when the pipe traffic was slow.
492 took water at the Cumbres stand pipe before pulling forward over the crest, cutting out the helper, and with caboose re-attached, headed for Alamosa. 487 turned on the wye and returned to Chama. The next day 487 would double head with 484 to Cumbres ahead of the Intermountain Express charter excursion.
We followed 492 to Los Pinos before heading to Antonito. This was my first car chase of a Rio Grande narrow gauge freight. Ultimately there would be many more. If my memory serves me correctly, we paced 492 from Antonito to Alamosa on the 3-rail race way, but after 57 years I am no longer absolutely certain. In any event, we drove from Alamosa to Walsenburg where my new found friends dropped me off at the Colorado & Southern depot to await the arrival of train 7, just 48 hours after having left it, as they continued their journey to Chicago. I am still grateful that they rescued me from a dubious adventure and turned into an unforgettable adventure. And I still had the key ingredients for a safe return home - my train ticket to Alamogordo and 25 cents that I invested in a Fig Newton
bar as sustenance until dinner at home on the following day.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.