Re: Alamosa Shops

473 went over to Alamosa in Oct of 1968 and returned in early Dec. That's not much time to much heavy work. Even putting a set of flues in 30 days would be a serious stretch. My guess is it got some running gear work, minor boiler work and a nice paint job (with unique "hand lettered" numbers on the cab).
It was annual event to send the 470's to Alamosa for thier annual inspection and shop work. In the fall of 1967 476 and 478 worked east in freight service and returned in May 1968. 473 was scheduled to work east in Dec, 1967, but the weather turned bad and the run was cancelled. For that reason 473 sat out much of the 1968 season and was used as a spare for 476 and 478.
As to the amount of work done, I have not heard. 497 is credited with being the last engine "overhauled" in the Alamosa Backshop. There are pics of it in 1966 up on shop trucks, stripped down.