Splitting the Train for Water

Earl, you stated that when stopping for water it was common for the train to be broken apart to ease spotting the locomotives.
Was it common in the late-day operations of the Rio Grande? I did not witness Rio Grande train operations as many here on this board did. What I have deduced primarily from film of the later era operations is a scenario like this. Every engineer on a westbound train out of Antonito with a mid-train helper knew that they would be stopping at Sublette for water. Upon arriving at Sublette, the lead engine would stop and take water. Then, I suspect, without any signal or communication exchange, the engineer on the lead locomotive would cut out his brake valve and the engineer on the mid-train helper would cut in his brake valve. Upon completion of the water stop for the lead locomotive, again I suspect, the lead engineer would whistle off and the engineer on the helper would listen for this signal, then both engines would work steam to move the train. As the helper approached the water plug, he would use the automatic brake to stop the entire train, spotting his locomotive correctly for water. Then he would cut out his automatic brake valve and the lead engineer would cut in his automatic brake valve. Again, I suspect this was done with out any signal (whistle or brake pipe reduction) or other communication and was just part of the routine that every engineer learned from his predecessor. Upon completion of the helper's water stop, he would as you said, open his throttle and whistle two long blasts indicating that he was ready to go. The lead engineer would then release his independent brake and open his throttle when he was ready to get the train moving again.
Such an understanding between enginemen would save the time and labor of uncoupling and coupling the train. Additionally, the lead engineer doesn't have to guess where the end of his segment of the train is with respect to clearing the water spout with enough room for the second engine to pull up and take water.
With the above said, I believe the Rio Grande's operating rules specified that when locomotives in a train take water, that the train be cut just ahead of each helper and the sections of the train moved to water the locomotives independently. However, in the remote lands of the narrow gauge, I doubt that few (in management) knew of this practice and as long as the train stayed on the track and nobody got hurt, they didn't care.
Any thoughts? Is this thinking "on track?"