Pounding Coal *LINK*

Look at any D&RGW drop bottom gondola and they appear like they've been beaten to death. Well, they actually were. I caught this photo of Frank Morrow, an Alamosa shop mechanic assigned to each train that went to Chama in the last several years of Rio Grande operation. It was his job to take care of any mechanical problems with the engines, with the meagre supply of tools in the engine house, and to generally help out. He was a terrifc guy and loved his work, having been with the Grande for most of his life. So, I was a bit taken aback when I watched him beating the hell out of the side of car 801 to dislodge the coal so it would fall out the bottom of the car into the coal tower bin. He assured me it was common practice as the cars weren't always self-unloading. This was taken summer of 1967.