Great Stuff Olaf. You mentioned J. David Conrad, and the Mexico trip in 1963. My family(Mom and Dad, and Brother Randy and i), were on that 2 week Mexico trip which was indeed in August of 1963. We referred to Conrad as Randy back in those days, so it was years later that I found they were the same person. Conrad has a photo he took of me standing in front of the last NdeM engine to be rebuilt in Auguascaliente(4-8-4 3046).
If Earl is reading this, I have to ask him if this train with 487 and 492 looks familiar....perhaps the same day some film I have was shot!!! Sounds and looks similar. I will need to investigate further.
Enjoyed your stories and photos. I was 12 in 1963!
Greg