Helpers west of Chama

Starting around 1960 and depending on tonnage, the helpers west from Chama often ran light to Gato and waited for their train there, helping from there to the top of the hill near Falfa (MP 443), then running light to Durango. If tonnage was heavy or the track slippery (as in the winter) they would also doublehead from Chama to Azotea, with the helper running light from Azotea to Gato.

Earl made a post that is buried back in the archives that mentioned a derailment in Monero canyon (I think) somewhere around 1959. That resulted in a special instruction about not doubleheading downhill, except in snow service when authorized by the Chief Dispatcher. Also MP 443 to Gato was excluded. It first shows up in my April 1961 timetable.

I'm going to guess (since it was before my time) that before that restriction it was common for trains to doublehead all the way from Chama to Durango. Certainly right up to the end trains often doubleheaded all the way from Durango to Chama even though it was largely downhill from Falfa to Gato. But that's just a guess on my part.

And of course it all depended on tonnage. I have shots of short trains with one engine all the way, or helpers out of Durango that worked only as far as MP 443 and then returned to Durango.

JBW



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2007 12:58PM by John West.