Just heard an interesting story that I would like to learn more about. My hand therapist’s (I cut my hand on my table saw) husband’s Grand Father was an engineer named Ell (Soapy) Smith operating out of Alamosa.
One day he was westbound to Chama and when he came out of Toltec Tunnel the section gang had disconnected a section of rail and the Loco rolled. Soapy jumped and received a broken hip but the fireman was killed. The loco only went part way down and was later recovered but the tender went to the bottom and is still visible today.
This is the story as her husband remembers being told by his father. Does anyone know of this accident? If so, do you have more details and/or do you know of any book, or other publication, where it is documented?
Would sure like to “Hear the rest of the story”.
Thanks in advance, Bill