Re: 05635 history

As I said we did mixed trains, steel & wood frame all the time and I have no problem with this.
It could be possible to have a mixed construction restoration in the “Zone” i.e. between the engines & the sleds on the west side of the hill eliminating the need for switching at Osier & Chama.
I’m not advocating that it can’t be done.
But if you have people on the platform of a caboose be they train crew or public, and the train has a large number of sleds behind following the caboose down hill, and the engine go’s on the ground on steep grade of tangent track you need that end platform to be able to handle a fair amount of trauma. If the platform fails, a miner derailment could become a situation the railroad would not be able to recover from. Also If you yank the end platform off a car with people in proximity of it. The railroad can be put in jeopardy as well
I haven’t seen the photos of the restoration with the 4” x 6” steel tube and can’t comment either way. Whoever makes the policies as to how to handle this aspect of the operation has to keep the above mind.
The CMO was the policy maker in the past . The railroad no longer has need for a CMO so I’m not sure who’s call it is.
It’s not my responsibility anymore to call it one way or the other.
I do have to ask who is responsible for this aspect now . Dos any body know?
madjack