Walter Knott

If I remember correctly from what Dr. Schoolland (the retired CU professor who saved #74) told me, Walter knott was quite a railfan and rode both the 1949 and 1951 Rocky Club excursions over the RGS.
He acquired the equipment both to run on his farm in California, and to save it. The RGS equipment was bought at salvage from the RGS like 74 was. The D&RGW equipment was purchased, like Boulder's coach #280, with the involvement of Al Pearlman, then President of the Railroad, who had nothing but disdain for the narrow gauge. In his view, the faster the equipment left the property, the better. Walter Knott was able to be in position to keep some of the equipment from being burned and cut up for scrap, which was exactly what everyone thought would soon happen.
464 was not part of the original deal. It was still in Durango when I was first there in '67. We covered the date the 464 went to Knotts some time ago, it may have been '68 or '69.
Thanks for the post, Kev. We look forward to seeing some pictures!
Mike