Re: Chama Coaling Tower - Question

Most of the coaling stations were orginally inclined ramps like Alamosa, Sargents, Antonito, (Chama orginally), etc. Prior to bringing electricity to these places, it was either do a ramp or have some type of steam powered solution which required staffing, maintenance, etc.
When they started to prepare the line for the arrival of the larger power, the D&RGW replaced the ramps with electrically powered coaling towers at the major points and kept the ramps at Sargents, Antonito. I do not know the rationale for replacing the ramp at Chama and not at Sargents. I think Sargents may not have had electric power in 1924-25.
The best situation for the D&RGW was at Crested Butte where the engines were coaled directly from the CF&I "Big Mine." Fresh coal for sure....I have a photo of Rotary OO with 360 and 361 being coaled directly from the mine tipple.