Rio Grande’s Last Steam Freights 1968
SKU: DVD-GSVP-112$29.95
The final year of revenue steam operations on the DRG&W. Narrow gauge from Alamosa to Farmington via Chama and Durango. 2 DVDs.
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| Producer | Greg Scholl Video Productions |
|---|---|
| Run Time | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Narration | Yes |
| Shrink Wrap | Yes, Brand New |
| Technical Details | No Region Code |
1968 was the final year of revenue steam operations on the DRG&W as trains operated over the narrow gauge from Alamosa to Farmington via Chama and Durango. Trains would arrive in Alamosa and loads were transferred to the narrow gauge cars for forwarding west. The oil and gas boom of the 1950’s prolonged the steam operations as the D&RGW delivered loads of pipe and drilling supplies. This 8mm footage and slides were shot in the last half of 1968 when the last narrow gauge operation was winding down. In fact, you’ll see the last steam operation on any Class One railroad in the United States. The first run was a K28 hauling the first shipment of the year to Farmington from Durango. The next day we chase 498 with empty cars toward Chama. On the third day see 3 engines in Chama, and chase 483 with 493 back up Cumbres Pass toward Alamosa. This was the first run of freight up Cumbres Pass for 1968.
Later we pick up more runs from Ernie Robart including runs in June, July and August (Last run of 483 to Farmington is shown), plus odd moves in the fall, before seeing the final run from Alamosa on December 31,1968 which was 473 and 483 with a dead 481 and some coaches, and parts. This would be the final Rio Grande Steam train westbound from Alamosa, and ultimately the last train to operate between Chama and Durango. We end the show with shots of 473 in the Gato area on that last day heading to Durango. Of course today the Cumbres and Toltec remains, along with the Durango and Silverton, both of which were part of the former Rio Grande’s 4th Subdivision over Cumbres pass. This DVD has a lot of interesting long-gone scenes, and allows one to peer into the history that was the final year of steam operations. Not only was it important because it was the last Denver and Rio Grande Western steam on the narrow gauge, but it was the last steam anywhere in the U.S. for a class one railroad. It was indeed the end of an era!
Please note: There is no actual steam sound on this DVD, it is music and narration. There was no soundtrack on the original film and no sound has been dubbed in.
rickyfreni –
Here’s The Timeline of the final steam freights on a class 1 railroad:
Disc 1 covers April & June trips with 476 & 478 in the snow on April 23, the same pair on May 28 Double-heading from Alamosa to Durango, June 3rd with 478 to Farmington, Next day June 4th with 476 on a passenger train to Silverton, & 498 east to Chama but the Scholl family would go as far as Gato, Next day June 5th with 498 in Chama, & 483 & 493 heading east to Alamosa, plus June 14th with 498 leaving Chama for Durango, 483 & 493 on the same route as June 5th, & later 478 helps 498 on a double-header from Chama to Durango.
Also, on disc 1 prior to the Scholl Family visiting the 4th Division, a cameo shot of 346 on the Colorado Railroad Museum, & a Photo Run-by with Union Pacific 844 as 8444 from Cheyenne to Yoder Wyoming is also included.
Disc 2 Covers the July to December visits with 483 & 493 from Alamosa to Chama on July 17th, Next day July 18 with 498 from Monero to Chama plus more of 483 & 493 as they turned east to Alamosa on its final Cumbres Turn in history, August 28 from Alamosa to Chama with 483 & 484, & the next day the 29th with 484 & 498 to Alamosa with stills by Russ Sperry, August 30th with 478 on a passenger train to Silverton, & the next day the 31st with 483 on the final freight through the Farmington Branch, plus 483 with a movie train on October 9th, & on the same day & the next day, 473 heads east on the entire 4th division while running light as it heads to Alamosa for some Hollywood Work, followed by December 5, 473 & 483 are heading west from Alamosa to Chama on one of the final D&RGW steam powered freight trains with 481 in the middle, & finally on the next day, 473 & 481 heads west from Chama to Durango for the final time.
Chase –
This is another great Greg Scholl production of the Denver and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge. This shows the narrow gauge at its very end including the very last train to Durango that ended all operations on the fourth division. The footage is well worth the purchase of this DVD.