Steam & Excursion > Grande NG double-headed stock train

I'm searching for the original slide for this one ... this is one of those I scanned then re-filed w/out adding info. Almost a 'unit' train!

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Hard to tell the loco numbers--looks like 486 and 491.  That would put the train date after the mid-1950's and before around 1965.  Train is southbound between Alamosa and Antonito--Mt. Blanca massif visible in the photo.  Storm clouds indicate that the train is running during the Southwest Monsoon, most likely in August or early September.  Stock cars are most likely empty--they are likely being repositioned for the fall stock rush, most likely to Chama for eventual loading.

I tweeked your picture a little.

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camelot7unplugged Wrote:
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> I tweeked your picture a little.
​   To bad they cant send telegrams now. Someone wiped out the poles. Geesh!!

UPRR3985 Wrote:
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> camelot7unplugged Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I tweeked your picture a little.
> ​   To bad they cant send telegrams now.
> Someone wiped out the poles. Geesh!!

He had to get rid of the telegraph circuits - otherwise somebody might report that he had already wiped out the power to Antonito!
 

WW Wrote:
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> Hard to tell the loco numbers--looks like 486 and
> 491.  That would put the train date after the
> mid-1950's and before around 1965.  Train is
> southbound between Alamosa and Antonito--Mt.
> Blanca massif visible in the photo.  Storm clouds
> indicate that the train is running during the
> Southwest Monsoon, most likely in August or early
> September.  Stock cars are most likely
> empty--they are likely being repositioned for the
> fall stock rush, most likely to Chama for eventual
> loading.

Pre-1964.  486 was retired in 1964.  491 ran for a few years more (1965?).  the Grande was pretty well done with stock trains by 1965 anyway.  They liked to stash stock cars on the remnent of the Chili Line south of Antonito, bwould not be suprised if they were set out there. 

I have a photo of a stock train eastbound on Cumbres taken by Dick Kindig, I believe, that was dated 1961--with 486.