Re: Alamosa (SG) spreader

Paul:
Thanks for the link. I am writing a history of OU for the Prospector Magazine. It will be an update of what I wrote for the OA-OZ book.
Some have speculated that D&RGW Jordan Spreader OU was just a standard gauge model with narrow gauge trucks. I have the specs that the D&RGW exchanged with the Jordan Company and OU was a custom job.
While many of the dimensions and parts were the same at standard gauge models, the D&RGW's standard gauge Jordans weighed twice as much as OU (76,900 pounds vs 23,500).
Following is the intro to the D&RGW OU specs:
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Car to be built according to A.R.A. and I.C.C. requirements for special cars. Equipped with Miner A-2-S draft gear, Westinghouse 10” x 12” air brake, K2 triple valve, dirt collector, retaining valve and release valve, 1-1/4” pipe train line and 3/8” pipe to retaining valve, air brake to be tested to 70# air pressure and to have a piston travel of not more than 7” with new brake shoes. Pin lifters to operate from side of car. A.R.A. type D, 6” x 8” top operating couplers connected to cast steel draft yoke with 1-1/2” x 6” key. Hand brake rigging to be A.R.A. operated with air brake. All parts to be made accurately to patterns and templates.