1968 mainline access Durango

One interesting thing about the loop and the diamond was that was the only access to the mainline to Alamosa and the Farmington branch...except for one interesting happening.

I've seen photos that clearly show the yard track from the south dead-ending at the loop. But Doris Osterewald once let me use some of her late husband Frank's footage of the 1968 National Park Service train.

The D&RGW installed a switch in the loop and connected one of the yard tracks, so for one train, and one train only it would seem, the Silverton Branch and the mainline were connected after the loop was put in.

Some useless trivia to divert everyone's minds from whatever was more important in their day.