497

It bears repeating, for the benefit of anyone who might not be aware, that 497 was restored to service by the D&S in Durango because it was already there when Bradshaw bought the line.
497 was left in Durango, along with all the empty freight cars it could have added to the last Eastbound train because the only avalable division engineer to run it as the second engine laid off to attend his Mother's birthday party. The D&RGW couldn't reach agreement with the Union on deadhead wages to bus an engine crew over from Alamosa, so everything was left. God bless Momma Payne!
Both 497 and 481 (which was actually planned for eventual use on the Silverton Branch by the D&RGW) sat unsued in the Durango Yard for over 12 years, serving only to be used as a source for parts to keep the 470's going during those years.
It is simply amazing that such an odd twist of fate ended up preserving so many freight cars. I think it might be a safe bet that none of the 490's would have been restored to this day, had things not happened the way they did back in '68.