Re: Cumbres, February 12, 1937

It was D&RGW practice to include a flanger in many freight trains on Cumbres, Marshall Pass, Cerro Hill, Poncha Pass, and many of the branches. The rules did not permit the flanger blade to be lowered while the freight train was moving. If conditions required the blade to be lowered, the crew would uncouple from the train, flange ahead and return for the rest of the train. I think what you are seeing in this register page is a double header freight with a flanger between. When they reach the summit, one of the engines returns light with the flanger. That same pattern was followed on Marhsall Pass to Sargents.