57 years ago today - 487 and 493 on a flanger and spreader run

Note: the following photos are re-scans of slides that were posted some time back.

Today it is possible to see narrow gauge steam in December on a daily basis. That was not the case in the fall and winter of 1965. The Silverton branch was of course shut down, and mainline freight operations were down to about two freight cycles per month. December 1965 was no exception, except that heavy snowfall on Cumbres Pass and flooding problems in the Durango area complicated operations and resulted in extra non-revenue train action.

On December 2,3, and 4 engines 484, 487, 488, and 492 made a heavy-freight cycle, with two Cumbres turns out of Chama on December 3.

On December 7 and 8 engine 488 made a work train run from Durango Chama and return

On December 20 the next freight cycle was scheduled to operate out of Alamosa

I drove to Alamosa on December 19 and found a long string of pipe loads and box cars loaded with drill mud set out on a siding. 487 and 493 were under steam in the round house.

On the morning of Monday, December 20, the hostlers have moved 487 to the ready track next to the siding with loads for Farmington. However, the loads were to remain in Alamosa until Wednesday as 5 feet of snow were reported on Cumbres Pass, and a flanger/ spreader run to Chama was to be made first.



The hostlers have moved 493 to the ready track to join 487



The road crew has picked up a short train consisting of a flanger, the spreader, a box car with tools, and 3 cabooses, and is charging out of Alamosa on this freezing morning.



Heading for Antonito, the train is trailing a long cloud of condensed steam



Snowy Mt. Blanca makes a beautiful backdrop for the engines making a fast run on the 3-rail track



(to be continued)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2022 04:29PM by Olaf Rasmussen.