Re: Cumbres crews

The enginemen would bid on the available jobs as far as I understand it. The enginemen on the passenger train held those jobs regardless of when the train arrived in Chama and when the eastbound left. The freight crews would probably be on first in first out basis. Crews could get stuck in Chama none the less. As an example, engineer Caldwell came west to Chama on a freight on April 5th, headed east from Cumbres lite after helping a freight on April 6th, got turned around at Antonito to help a westbound freight, did a Big Horn plow turn on the 7th, was the pilot on rotary OM on a Big Horn Turn on the 8th, did two Cumbres turns early on the 9th, and finally returned to Alamosa on the second engine on the passenger train late on the 9th, getting into Alamosa in the wee hours of April 10th. He, of course, made some good money, but he was gone a good five days.