Re: D&RGW: Taking Water - and Movies - at Sublette . . .

483 ran until July or August of 1977, and set aside because the driver tire flanges had finally crossed the condemning limit.

I didn't think they did it 1975, but by 1976 a "second section" train had been created using the open gon from the defunct Tahoe, Trout Creek & Pacific (flat 6205 still used on freight charters), and a few boxcars which had been opened up on the south side only. Later stock car 5635 was rebuilt into a caboose and restroom car for this train.

Apparently, it was thought the current train was maximum tonnage for two engines to double head up the hill, so this train was based out of Cumbres and ran to Sublette and back. In 1978 they used the helper engine for this train. It followed the regular train out of Cumbres and Osier. At Sublette, the engine cut off and ran to Big Horn to turn, came back to Sublette, picked up the train and returned it to Cumbres.

Perhaps in 1975, they used the 19 for power.

When I went to work in Chama in 1981, there were 3-4 one-sided boxcars kept at Cumbres for tour groups to ride in from Cumbres to Osier and back. I recall switching them in and out of the train at Cumbres. When Scenic Rys departed the Commission did not buy these box cars. Some were sold to Russ Patterson at the Rio Chama RV Park, where they reside today.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2021 04:47PM by Earl.