Later Years

494 and 495's use in later years probably is based upon what is defined in "later years" (to me anything 1960-5 are "later years", 1966-68 was the slow painful death) and a little luck. I know that 494 and 495 were used in the early 60s, but obviously the line began an uncontrollable nosedive from the late 50s to the end. It is possible that the 494 and 495 would have been used to the end if it were not for certain events. 498 and 497 both had to get serious shop work done in 1960 after their mishap at Los Pinos. I cannot say for certain, but I’m sure their recent shop work kept them from the dead line during the early 60s retirements of the others that may have been more favored locos. (Why they were not retired or scrapped after that I am not sure, would've made sense to me, considering 482 and 490 were dead or dying in 1960) 480, 481, 486, 489, 491, 494, 495, & 499 all were retired between 1961 and 1964, or what I call the “mass retirement.” Some that ran to the end like 483 & 492 were also involved in accidents prior to or during the mass retirement of 1961-64. I am willing to bet all the recent shop work kept them running. Maybe the others, 484, 487, 488, and 493 were just better, or their remaining flue time played a factor when others were retired. I'm guessing that 482(1959) & 490(1960) were just precursors to the mass retirement of 1961-64.