The following Photo Tour will record Extra D&RGW #453 East in a typical operating session on the D&RGW. Operationally, the layout is envisioned as extending between Gunnison, CO and Cimarron, CO. 'Modelers License' has permitted the operation of all sizes of equipment west of Gunnison in order to accomodate my personal fascination with the larger K-series locomotives. This second part of Chapter 2 will see the completion of switching operations at Sapinero, and then on to Gunnison.
Picture #10: #453's first task is to pick up bulkhead flat D&RGW 6526 and box car C&S 8268 from the Burnside Mill.
Picture #11: After picking up the two cars from the Burnside Mill, #453 dives into the spur for the stockyards to retrieve two stock cars that are not to be picked up yet. 'House Rules' are that the newest setouts are put in the deepest, with the theory being that this will make it easier to pick them up in a subsequent session.
Picture #12: Once the new set outs for the stock yards (D&RGW 5793 and 5819) are coupled to the existing cars, #453 pushes the consist back into the spur. It must be the fall stock rush, judging by the traffic!
Picture #13: #453 has completed its duties at Sapinero, and will depart for Gunnison as soon as Extra #375 West has cleared the main.
Picture #14: Extra #453 East is on its way to Gunnison, with caboose 0586 bringing up the rear. If you look closely, you will see Otto Perry standing on the bank, preserving this scene for posterity - and for future publication in one of Dick Dorman's books...
Picture #15: Extra #453 East has now arrived at Gunnison. After spotting its caboose on the caboose track, #453 has run around its train to complete its final tasks.
Picture #16: #453 has spotted the two stock cars destined for the stock yards at the pens. As at Sapinero, the new cars were shuffled in behind the car that was already there.
Picture #17: #453's final task is to set out the remaining cars on one of the storage tracks, ready to be sent on somewhere else in the next operating session.
Picture #18: #453 has headed for the roundhouse, but is blocked by a preponderance of motive power! Oh well, one can't be strictly prototypical about everything, can one...?
This is the final Chapter of Operating Night on the D&RGW - it's someone else's turn now! I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, and the very best for the New Year.
December 1999
Jim Brown
Copyright 2003 - James S. Brown