Re: History of the Heralds . . .

Tank Smith Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After going through my photo collection, I am con-
> fident of these details:
>
> 483 lost the 1970-style herald prior to the start of
> the 1971 season and it was never restored.  This
> was when the flying Rio Grande reappeared along
> with the red tender stripes.
> 484 operated throughout 1971 with the 1970 herald.
> 484 lost the 1970 herald when repainted for "Show-
> down" in May 1972 and it was never restored.
>
> 483 & 484 both ran the 1972 season without any
> heralds.
>
> The newer style herald was apparently debuted
> for the Toltec Ratter when both got this version,
> and was used for at least a decade.
>
> 1970-era herald:
> "Toltec Gorge Route" in center
> "SCENIC LINE" in small caps on the banner
> "CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RR" around the edge
> Thinner lines, longer banner hangers
> Simpler banner
>
> 1972 herald:
> Slightly larger
> "C & T S RR" around the edge
> Thicker lines, smaller banner hangers
> Banner closer to the D&RG Royal Gorge Route style
>
> The 1972 design was considerably easier to paint.


THANK YOU, Tank!!

I had forgotten about Ernie's herald getting simplified a bit near the end of the 1972 season.

Here's #483 on the occasion of the first of the "Three Great Events" dinner trains — August 25, 1972:

Photo copyright © 1972, 2012 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.


Photo copyright © 1972, 2012 by Ernest W. Robart - All Rights Reserved.

Apparently #483 got the newer version of the herald in time for the second of the "Three Great Events" dinner trains, as I took this photo late in the afternoon of September 22, 1972:


Does anyone have a larger photo of the 1972-style herald that can be used to re-create it on #484 for the Rattler Redux commemorations in October?

Here (yet again) are #483 and #484 with their new heralds, getting underway with the Toltec Rattler on October 22, 1972, after being temporarily separated for the crossing of Lobato Trestle:


#483 got yet another style of lettering applied to her tender behind sometime in the mid-1970s.  Here she is taking water at Sublette in late September, 1975:


- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2022 12:22PM by Russo Loco.