Reading between the lines of the 1890's trainorders I have, I have always assumed they were for an engine assigned to switch in Silverton (anyone know if this true or not?). And given whatever issues caused Silverton not to have a tank (bad water??), such an engine would have to run to the tank and back periodically. Perhaps as business changed there was no longer a need for an assigned Silverton engine, and the switching could be done by road engines coming in from Durango who could fill up at Needleton. So the need for the tank at declined, and if the story about slide damage is true, there was little incentive to repair it. An emgency supply from the flume would be adequate to allow engines from Durango to top off if needed. But that of course is all conjecture on my part.
I am really scratching my head as to why the flume arrangement did not catch my attention in 1963 when I must have walked right under it on my way to Elk Park and back. Oh the things I missed back than.
JBWX
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2020 10:04AM by John West.