I'll give this a try and make the answers as short and sweet as possible:
"Greetings,
I guess I would like to get a grip upon the train traffic patterns/train movements into and out of Alamosa in the 1950’s, and maybe into the 60’s
How often did the standard gauge trains arrive from the east?"
There was one daily scheduled freight into Alamosa from the East and as many extras as needed for the traffic at hand.
"How often did they go south and west?"
Trains "south" to Antonito depended on local traffic. In the slow time of the year, local work was handled by NG trains headed to Chama using SG cars and idlers. In busier times, extra trains would be run as needed using either NG or SG power. Trains west on the Creede line ran daily, again with extras as needed.
"How often did the narrow gauge trains leave/arrive?"
Again, as needed according to traffic. At its peak it was difficult to get more than one train a day out of Alamosa because of the time required to transfer and lack of crews, motive power, etc. There were times when they could get 2 trains west out of Alamosa in 24 hours, but not very often. During slower times they would run 2-3 times a week. Later, they ran "as needed".
"What kinds of goods were commonly shipped on both gauges?"
All kinds of stuff. There was a lot of agricultual biz out of the San Luis Valley headed east. Westward SG traffic would include pipe and supplies headed west on the NG and othe misc freight. NG traffic in the 50's was primarily pipe and supplies for the gas fields in the Farmington area (westbound). Oil from the Chama area shipped east to the refinery in Alamosa, Coal from Durango and west of Chama to the power plant in Alamosa, lumber from Durango and Chama, headed east for transfer on the SG. There were lot's of misc. carloads of stuff like road oil, perishables, automobiles, etc, etc.
"What goods were transferred between the gauges?"
All the pipe traffic, along with any misc stuff headed west. In the fall a considerable amount of livestock was sent east on the SG.
"Where, in the yard, was this transfer action completed?"
The main transfer yard was west of the passenger depot and across the tracks.
"What train crews were stationed at Alamosa? Only the narrow gauge people? Or both?"
Both. There were 2 seperate call boards - Narrow gauge and Standard gauge, plus and "extra board" which covered both as needed. Crews could bid on any of the boards. Most of the old heads worked the SG board, younger guys the NG board, and the bottom guys worked the extra board. At its peak in 1952 there were 14 crews on the NG board. The SG board covered the mainline east to La Veta as well as the Creede Branch. The NG board covered the mainline to Chama as well as extra jobs working to Antonito (including standard gauge trains running down there).
"Does anyone have a track plan of Alamosa circa 1960?"
Check above mentioned sources.
"When did the narrow gauge passenger trains cease? Were they mixed trains?"
Regular narrow gauge passenger trains stopped running in Jan, 1951. Chartered excursion trains operated until 1966. The regular passenger trains were first class trains - coaches, parlor car, RPO, express cars.
"When did the standard gauge passenger trains cease?"
The night passenger train from Denver - which connected with the NG passenger train to Durango- stopped in Jan, 1951 when the NG passenger came off. A SG daytime train replaced it running from Alamosa to Pueblo. It lasted only a couple more years to 1954(?).
Additions welcome......
