OGR-ATSF 4-8-4 Review/SF Questions

My uncle drove from Santa Fe.  He, and my Mother, were from Trinidad, Co, although he moved to Raton when I was a kid.  Based on what he drove - everything from lighter stuff to the 2900s to F3s later on, I think just about everything ATSF had made it back and forth over Raton pass, at least on occasion.  It was a major segment - at least in my mind at the time, living there, listening to him, the major segment, of the ATSF system.

I order the 3rd Rail 2900 - should arrive next Tuesday.  Can't wait to get it.  Always been my very favorite locomotive.

Thanks, Mr. Willis....the OGR review mentioned 2900's going over Raton...but I

am wondering about smaller engines that ran on the Joint Line up and down the

Front Range? And was interested in knowing if any of those were coal fired, and

what the territories were for the different fuels? (in spite of several trips to the area, I have never been to Raton or over the pass, always going into N.M. out of Durango or Alamosa...don't remember being south of Walsenburg)

Well, first, note its been, oh, fifty years . . . I was a kid at the time and my Dad and uncle took me to the trainyards and talked with me but . . .

I think ATSF routinely scheduled only pretty heavy duty stuff over Raton Pass - it was quite a difficult haul so light stuff would not have been used.  It was also a bit of a bottleneck so small/unimportant stuff would not have been permitted since the rails were nearly always being used for serious "revenue."  That said, I recall that there were facilities in both Trinidad and Raton that that individual locos would be moved back and forth of maintenance or something.  Also, I know for certain that steam locos were used up well into the 50s to assist trains up and over the pass at times, and that these on occasion would include locos that were about the size of Decapods (I don't recall if they were decapods but they were locos with smaller drivers and an overall size quite a bit smaller than the big 3700 and 2900s, etc.).  

You've inspired me to order a copy (well used, not paying $200 for a NIB version!) of this book from Amazon.  The cover surely appears to show the type of healper locos I was talking about.  Should get it late next week.

Thanks, Mr. Willis..so there is a book on the pass...doesn't sound cheap to get...I'm

almost afraid to ask if there is one on the Santa Fe on its Joint Line which in that

era I am guessing (and I do not know when the Joint Line and the Santa Fe reaching Denver from the south began) that there was a junction splitting off from the route to La Junta at Trinidad going north for Denver?  I have not seen a book on the Joint Line.

Mr. Willis....I bopped through one of the national train shows I was maligning and found another book on that area, which, if you are familiar with that area, and a fan of the Sandy Fay, you will want to get your hands on...it may well answer my questions above as soon as I can go through it:  Colorado Rail Annual #23, "Santa Fe in the Intermountain West", with maps of lines around Raton, etc. Looks like coal fired and oil fired locos used interchangeably.....I was thinking about using an ATSF Prairie as

a door stop on a dead siding for a helper in waiting at my junction with the Joint Line.  Dunno if anybody has made an ATSF Prairie?...book says a lot were common in the Raton area and shows both coal and oil versions. 

I also found my stone siding for my MTH granary kitbash, so I will have to rethink

those shows...stuff is where you find it.....

coloradohiraile

You should purchase Machines of Iron - Otto Perry's Santa Fe.

Mostly filmed on the "Joint Line", you will see Santa Fe 2-6-2's, 2-8-2's, 2-10-2's, 4-6-4's, 4-8-2's, 4-8-4's, not to mention Burlington and Santa Fe engines double heading.  On Raton pass you will even see the N&W Y-3's that Santa Fe leased, along with all the largest steam classes of the Santa Fe.

After you watch the video a few times you will have an excellent idea what ran in those areas.

It is the best way to get an education of what Santa Fe ran on the joint line and a must have for either "Joint Line" fans, or Santa Fe fans.

The book I ordered last week - Santa Fe's Raton Pass (picture in a post earlier in this thread) - arrived an hour ago.  

Specific to the quesiton that started this thread.  Near as I can tell, just about every type of locomotive ever made went through Raton Pass.  There are pictures of tiny stuff like Atlantics, 2-4-2s, 2-6-2,s 2-8-2, Pacifics and all the normal ATSF steam you see3700, 3800, 2900, and 5000 series locos, many combos double and triple headed, etc. some early diesels, too., including Alcos and F3s and GPsomethings.

I love this book by the way.  I bought one used but in good condition but still pricey.  Imagine my surprise when I found gobs of photos of Trinidad, Colo, where I my Mom grew up and I was born, including one that I swear had to had been taken in my Grandparent's front yard, or close.  I recall many of the buildings and much of the train yards (where my uncle worked) that are shown.  Oh wow!