I hope this helps...text taken from "Rio Grande Narrow Gauge- Final Years, Alamosa to Chama" by
Joseph P. Hereford, Jr. and Ernest W. Robart.
Pending ICC's decision, occasional freight trains operated in 1968. Thirty four freight trains had run over Cumbres Passin 1967;there were only nine the following year. The last trainload of revenue freight over Cumbres Pass, fourteen cars of lumber, moved from Chama to Alamosa on August 29, 1968.
Some trains operated during Sept. and Oct. '68 in conjunction with motion pictures being filmed along the line. One of the movies was filmed between Chama and Toltec and involved train operations over Cumbres. The other was filmed on the Silverton branch. Early in Oct. '68 Locomotive 473, one of the Silverton branch passenger locomotives, used in the movie filmed there, ran light from Durango to the shops at Alamosa for work. During the third week in Nov., 483, which had been used in the filming at Chama, took a special passenger train for the National Park Service from Durango to Alamosa.
On Dec. 5, '68, the last Rio Grande train over Cumbres departed Alamosa for Durango. Powered by locomotives 483 and 473, it compriesd locomotive 481 ( not used after it had been overhauled two years ealier), a gondola of boiler flues, three Silverton branch passenger cars and three cabooses. Nine empty boxcars were included to provide additional brakes for easing the train down the west side of Cuumbres Pass. After spending the night in Chama, 473 took the train west, reaching Durango late in the evening of Dec. 6. 483 returned light to Alamosa.
After Dec. 6, then, the narrow gauge , except for summer passenger trains on the Silverton branch, was idle. The Park Service excursion had been operated so that the agency could evaluate the Durango-Alamosa line as a possible addition to the nation's park system-but no further action was taken. Instead, a small number of dedicated individuals worked to interest the states of Colorado and New Mexico in purchasing the track between Antonito and Chama. Finallt on July 14, 1969, the ICC granted the Rio Grande's abandonment request.
Dan K28473
