Well, Bob Richardson remains well and sharp as always but could not be convinced there was not still a story there to research during the winter. He added that a few years back there might have been a magazine story, maybe a model magazine, that used some word like “one of the best kept secrets of the war”. Now sound like some spoof made up for someone model layout and that may be what Donald F. might be thinking of. We will not know till he locates that magazine issue at his brother place.
Bob felt someone could check the engine cards for #478 and see when and where the boiler washes were done. They were in Jack Thode collection, which is now at the museum. I think a good fact would be a land transfer deed in Espanola in 1942 for example. Or even a sale of the old right-of-way in Santa Fe before 1943 would be a good ‘con’ fact. Thanks to the fine time-line offered by Don, we know what dates to look for. That was one of the most useful posts to this story, and your wrong, I do thank you for that thoughtful addition, but question the worth of the later dissertation. Also thanks for the Antonito newspaper note, but what was its date?
I was also wondering if any of the old crew time books might show any location of dismantling work in 1942, but now realize the contractor likely did not use any railroad personal to tear up the line. There practice, as on the Valley line, was to hire at the lowest wage, a rate no railroader would work for. When the Valley line was abandoned, the contractor was there the next day with a rented K-36 and a cut of D&RGW gondolas and Bob said he did not recognize any of the men in the engine.
Bob questioned the Los Alamos movie showing the train having two open platform cars, which was out of the norm, being only one car, and he said it did not look to be a business car. He added this was “not the first time he had been accused of seeing things that did not exist.” Then relating back to Ohio Creek Extension when Mac Poor totally knew he was wrong. The club later admitted they had aerial photos which clearly showed the work, but never looked at them, as they knew Bob was wrong. When Mac and crew was shown the line crossing a Beaver marsh they still did not see it, until all the stone work was reached further up the line. Later when they finally mapped the line in the Pictorial Edition, they refused to show the prior ghost town of Richardson just above the projected grade. Mac wanted the new text to read he located the line on a camping trip but Bob convinced him that his reputation would be scared if it were worded that way.
So it looks that no real dismantling date per town will be known, and this case is closed! But if you want to see a real SECRET CHILI LINE click on link where even the present USGE TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS show the grading work that was done in the 1890s between San Jose or Chamita up the Rio Chama River to near our real Chama or a junction on the San Juan line west of Chama. The Chili line is from NE corner to SE corner and graded line is to the NW corner of map.
The secret was the fact the work was done without the D&RG directors knowing about it, and when they found out, "they fired President Moffat and the Chief Engineer." No track was ever built on the grade. Ernie Robart included in on his maps in Dorman’s Chili line book.
ecret Chili Line, Where are Pro and Con Facts?
