C&S 9 in Como - ca. April 1937

[Todd Hackett]

I just acquired the first image from eBay. It's marked on the back as Leadville in 4/37. I know it's Como, so I don't know whether to trust the date. I've had the other two for a while - I have the original negative for the middle one, and the print for the last one came from the same source. At first I thought that the pattern of snow on the pilot plow was almost exactly the same, so these may all have been taken on the same day. Looking closer, I see the new one has a little less snow on the front of the pilot but more on the pilot step, so maybe not. The new one shows that there is a boxcar (#8307) coupled to the locomotive, so probably not the last passenger train.

[Chris Walker]

Todd,

as usual you present great images.

top photo and middle photos aren't the same "era";

Top photo is carrying White flags vs middle photo appears to be carrying Green flags; the rear sand delivery pipe(behind the middle driver) isn't at the same angle.

Middle photo has a cleaner cabside numeral than the top.

Notice the Folding Seat of an Engineer leant against the base of the Crossbucks , along with a Toolbox on the ground.

Bottom photo so reminds me of Joe Crea's modelling efforts.  

[Southpark]

Note on photo #2 there is a "small" amount of snow on the bottom ledge of the tank and #3 shows a "small" amount on snow on the same ledge(both by the cross buck post).  Tom Klinger

[Todd Hackett]

Talk about subtle... That rear sand pipe is kind of fuzzy in the middle photo, but it does look to be shaped a bit differently than in the first. Here's a close-up comparison:

[Mike Trent]

These pictures are probably taken April 9, and 10th, 1937.

Mal Ferrel indicates the boxcar was taken off at Como on the 10th, before the train departed for Denver. The boxcar that was in the train the previous day behind #60 from Denver was also taken off at Como. The boxcars carried all records as the stations were closed after the final Westbound and Eastbound trains. The seatbox is interesting, as both Engine and Train crews were changed at Como. This scene was the last time repeated, going all the way back  through the years as the crews from the East End and West End were changed at Como.

The green flags are a mystery to me as this was clearly scheduled train.  As is the sand pipe, maybe this was a different day.  

[Chris Walker]

Mike,
http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Freight-trains-at-Dillon-or-Keystone-tp1868p2190.html

The Boxcars were 8225 up Platte Canyon into Como and 8300 from Dillon to Como return from Leadville.

[Todd Hackett]

Close-up from the first photo:

[Keith Hayes]

This is not unlike one of those, "spot the differences" puzzles.

To my eye, the rod is in a different position in all three photos, certainly two of them.

I would find it odd--though not out of the question--that the sand pipe would be shaped differently on the run to Leadville and back. I have not personally touched a sand pipe, but that seems more of a Denver move than a Leadville one.

Could one of the photos have been taken during the Denver Water Board trip? That was an overcast and snowy day.

[Todd Hackett]

Keith Hayes wrote

...I would find it odd--though not out of the question--that the sand pipe would be shaped differently on the run to Leadville and back. I have not personally touched a sand pipe, but that seems more of a Denver move than a Leadville one...

The differences are subtle. I expect that it needed to be replaced (got dinged, rusted out, or some other reason). I'm sure they were hand-formed to fit, so the new one just came out a little different.