OK, John,
Here is my best recollection of the sequence of events.
In 1949, the D&RGW sent a train to the Chicago Railroad Exposition, which featured the new "Prospector" paint scheme on the equipment. There has been some debate about which came first, the chicken or the Prospector, but I'm relating the version commonly accepted by the RR employees, who called the scheme the "Prospector".
Locomotive #268, Combine #212, and Business Car #B-3 (later Nomad) were all decked out in the first version of "Grande (or, Aspen) Gold". B-3 was lettered as the William Jackson Palmer. There may have been another coach painted in the new two striped scheme, as there is definitely a coach listed in the roster, and #280 shows up in Gold in the San Juan consist in 1950.
Engine #473 was painted in the new scheme as an experiment in 1950, before the San Juan was discontinued. It was repainted in black after being derailed into the Animas River on the Silverton Branch, while clearing the line of stray equipment prior to filming of the movie "Denver & Rio Grande". That was in 1952, I believe.
Later in 1951, when the Silverton Train was being run to accomodate increased tourist and charter business, additional coaches were painted in Gold. These include #306 and #320, bringing the number of Gold coaches to three. Baggage #126 was also painted at this time. In 1952, coach #284, the last of the old open platform coaches on the roster, was painted gold. Later in 1952, Coach #280 was purchased by Dr. John Schoolland, for donation to the city of Boulder. The paint scheme used to this point was two stripes, Gold clerestory, silver roof, and silver underbody and trucks.
In 1955, the D&RGW painted the remaining NG passenger equipment on the roster in Gold. This included all of the remaining "San Juan" cars, #319, #312, #323, #327, and "Alamosa". By this time, the scheme was modified to include black underbodys and trucks, but the clerestory was still gold.
Later in the 50's, the San Juan cars were fitted with school bus seats, and Alamosa was numbered #350.
Engine #476 had a fake stack during much of the 50's, and also had the old box headlight from 473's Bumblebee. In 1958, #478 had a fake stack.
In 1961, one of the 9600 series gons was used in the consist painted Gold.
In 1962, #473 had her fake stack.
In 1964, the first four of the rider gons were converted with roofs, including the one that had been used since '61. Also in '64 the first of the new steel coaches were built at Burnham. This was the year they started running two trains.
It was also about this time that the clerestory became painted silver like the rest of the roof.
Business Car B-7 was the last of the cars to be painted in Gold, I believe that was in the late 50's, but it may have been in the early 60's. At that time, it was named "General William Jackson Palmer", later "General Palmer". B-2 (became Cinco Animas) and B-3 (became Nomad) were sold in the 50's, and later purshased by the Cinco Animas Corporation, and placed into charter service by the D&RGW.
That's all Ive got time for at present, I hope this helps....
