Re: 493 freight Alamosa to Chama on November 22, 1967

The freight on November 22, 1967, was the first of two single-engine trains from Alamosa to Chama headed by 493 at the end of 1967. The November 22 train moved 17 box cars of drill mud to Chama. The 17 cars were left in Chama until December 6, as there was no opposing train from Durango to Chama. 493 returned to Alamosa on November 23 with lumber loads from the Skyline mill, making a single-engine Cumbres turn and a Chama-Alamosa run-through.

In Rio Grande days ALL trains took water at Lava (in my experience). Since the Antonito tank failed to hold water in 1967, all westward trains took water from the small tank in La Jara.



Here are a few photos from November 22. My brother Wolf joined me on this chase, and he took still photos with my camera, while I focused on movies, which explains why I am in this photo as 493 comes barreling past at a good clip on the 3-rail raceway.



493 took on water at la Jara, then continued the fast pace toward Antonito



The train crossed the Conejos River bridge just before reaching Antonito



In Antonito engine 493 took on coal at the Red Devil coal loader, but the crew did not attempt to add to the tender water supply from the slow trickle available from the water tank.