Slight Modification Noted....

There wasn't a dispute about the rate to be paid, the RR simply refused to pay the contract rate for a bus ride to Durango for this last run.
The Union refused if approached, or maybe there wasn't any negotiation at all. It doesn't really matter.
The indisputable point is that because the Railroad refused to pay whatever the contract amount for deadheading a crew, 497 and all that stuff got left.
You are exactly right, its clear that nobody cared at all about abandoning all that stuff in Durango, 497 included.
Story stands, with slight alteration. Thanks, John, for the reminder.