Re: Chama Yard, 1967

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Fritz. The coal tower itself probably appeared to be in much poorer condition at that time than it actually was, or you'd have become a mere footnote as "that nut who was killed when he was trying to get a picture back in '67".
Erick Nelson and I were there on August 7, 1967. At that time, #498 and #487 were both in Durango, recently in from a rare Westbound from Alamosa. There was not a single piece of rolling stock anywhere in the Chama Yard other than Rotary OM and a couple of Outfit Cars. All of which served as nothing but public toilets.
I haven't been able to find a picture I took that day of the empty Yard, but I am positive of the date. I'm also quite sure I wouldn't have monkeyed up the Coal Tower. Interestingly, the Coal Tower at Durango was still in use then, and looked like it was in excellent condition. The Chama Tower looked like it wouldn't last the next Winter.