Approaching Chama there was the first inkling that everything was not as we expected. The air above Chama was crystal clear where normally there would be a smudge of smoke over the east end of town. As we pulled into the depot area there came some very disappointing sights. The yard and engine facilities were empty and the whole area was blanketed in snow.
Obviously I had screwed up big time by not calling agent Trotter before leaving Las Cruces. I had been too trusting in Mr. Trotters prediction. As I learned later, there had been a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday freight cycle with 487, 492, 493, and 498 February 3 - 5. The following week 480, 484, 493, and 498 operated a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday freight cycle. So the last action in Chama had been two days earlier. And it snowed on Friday, so we had that desolate scene on Saturday morning. Had we been able to stay a little longer, there would have been some interesting action on the narrow gauge. On Tuesday, February 17, 487 and 488 made a flanger - spreader run from Alamosa to Chama. On Wednesday, February 18, 487 and 488 returned with the flanger - spreader outfit Chama to Alamosa while 480, 492, 484, and 493 started a 2-day freight cycle from Alamosa and Durango. The next few weeks were snowy, and snow clearing operations included one Chama - Big Horn - Chama flanger spreader turn and two Chama - Lava - Chama spreader turns.
As for us, we had breakfast at Kelly's bar, and took one more look at that desolate scene in Chama before turning south.
On the return drive we did make another stop at the Belen roundhouse, in daylight this time, to take a look at 2-10-4 5021. It is possible that this is the same 2-10-4 that I had seen leading four F units out of Belen toward Abo Pass in August 1957.
(to be continued)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2021 08:47AM by Olaf Rasmussen.