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45 Years Ago Today

Unread postPosted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:48 pm
by Jason Rose
45 years ago today, the Denver & Rio Grande Western delivered the first batch of locomotives and rolling stock to the newly created Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The equipment was moved from Alamosa to Antonito with GP7 5104.

Shortly after 5104 shoved the consist out past the wye (onto the new C&T mainline), locomotive 483 was fired up by retired Rio Grande Engineer Ben Greathouse.

What came to be called "The Longest Night" was over. Life returned to the narrow gauge.

Re: 45 Years Ago Today

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 6:36 pm
by John Hamman
Jason Rose wrote:45 years ago today, the Denver & Rio Grande Western delivered the first batch of locomotives and rolling stock to the newly created Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The equipment was moved from Alamosa to Antonito with GP7 5104.

Shortly after 5104 shoved the consist out past the wye (onto the new C&T mainline), locomotive 483 was fired up by retired Rio Grande Engineer Ben Greathouse.

What came to be called "The Longest Night" was over. Life returned to the narrow gauge.


Jason,

So am I correct to assume that they brought down the 483 brought down from Alamosa with the 5401 at the time as well?

Also, did they use an idler car to couple the jeep to the narrow guage cars?

John

Re: 45 Years Ago Today

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:03 pm
by Jason Rose
Yes, John. That's correct.

5104 was in the lead followed by an idler, 2 drop-bottom gons of ballast and then 483 followed by about 40 cars and a few locomotives. 5401 shoved the whole train out the end of the Antonito wye, gons first. The order of cars and locomotives had been carefully coordinated, but I forget all the reasons. The gons were up front to deal with a soft spot.

Re: 45 Years Ago Today

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 7:14 am
by John Hamman
That would have been something to see - Thanks!
John