Re: How many people paid?

Rick, A tripleheader is defined by most fans as 3 engines on the head end...Thus Triple-header(Head end). Anything not with 3 on the front is really just a 3-engine train. D&RGW never did 3 on the front except perhaps in the early years with small locos or later with K class engines on Rotary runs.
Typically most trains from Chama-Cumbres had a lead engine, and one tucked in as a rear pusher ahead of the caboose. If the engine is several cars back from the lead engine, and not on the rear, it is considered a mid-train helper, which was typical of long trains from Antonito to Cumbres.
In 1992 there were a series of charters over 2 weekends and in there was a Friday 3-engine train in the afternoon from Chama to Cumbres. That was 2 engines in the lead, and rear pusher. D&RGW did use that configuration on rare occassions verses 3 engines on the point.
In the case of the train you were talking about, I believe the first batch of freight cars was going to some FOTCS work site, and the engine back by the passenger cars was actually the regular road engine for the tourist train. It was probably too heavy for 2 locos, thus the third engine, or one loco was being used for the freight cars later. When 463 was operational sometimes 3 locos were needed since the trains from Chama were huge during the fall colors, and 463 couldn't match a K36 or K37 for helper power.
They did run some tripleheaders on the C&TS passenger trains in recent years(late 90's).
Steamingly,
Greg
PS If you can get the Commission and C&T management to leave the tenders and cabs painted D&RGW for 2007, you will become my favorite poster on Narrow Gauge worldwide. I still have $250.00 for paint money and there were others who wanted to chip in as well. As Wilfred Brimley would say "It's the right thing to do".