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Steam & Excursion > Look At What It Took To Open A Pass In The Days Of Steam!Date: 02/15/17 04:24 Look At What It Took To Open A Pass In The Days Of Steam! Author: LoggerHogger There was nothing simple about clearing a snow packed pass during the age of steam railroading. We see that in this view taken in 1962 at Antonito, Colorado.
The Cumbres Pass has again become plugged with snow drifts and snow accumulation that has halted rail travel until it can be cleared. To accomplish this task just look at the preparation and staging of equipment that had to occur. No less than 3 K-36 2-8-2's and their crew had to be fired up and fueled up along with the Rotary with her extra water tender. Then the train of flangers, tool cars and crew cars had to be assembled in the yards so that every contingency could be adequately dealt with high in the mountains where the snows await. It looks like the train is fully assembled and all the steam plants are fired up and are at working pressure ready for the snow train's departure. The days ahead will be long and tiring for the crews. However, this is what it took to keep the trains running. Martin Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/17 04:32 by LoggerHogger.  Date: 02/15/17 07:33 Re: Look At What It Took To Open A Pass In The Days Of Steam! Author: YG Date: 02/15/17 07:37 Re: Look At What It Took To Open A Pass In The Days Of Steam! Author: BAB Watching the videos of the rotary working with those engines is quite a sight. Also reading books about those railroads there are pictures that tell even more how rough it was with men shoveling the snow so it could be taken care of with the rotary.
Date: 02/15/17 22:01 Re: Look At What It Took To Open A Pass In The Days Of Steam! Author: rbenko As railfans salivated, the D&RGW bean counters wept - all that manpower, equipment, and fuel, for what? A couple of trains a week at best?
Still, such an awesome sight to behold - thanks for posting!! Date: 02/16/17 10:10 Re: Look At What It Took To Open A Pass In The Days Of Steam! Author: Earlk The Grande had to run the Rotary twice in the early 1962. The first time on January 24-25, then again on March 5-6. From the locomotive power line up, my guess is the is the mrch outting.
My good friend, and retired D&RGW hogger Eldon Morgan was engineer on one of the locomotives on both trips. The January trip he ran 497 on the March trip he ran 487, which I believe is the second engine in the above shot. |