Heading west from Chama. The helper had run ahead light to Gato where it would wait for the 487 and its train. The two engines would then doublehead for the climb from Gato to near Falfa, where they would seperate again for the downhill section into Durango.
The DRGW narrow gauge was the last major steam operation in the U.S. The climb over 10,000 foot Cumbres pass was spectacular, with two engines handling 70 car trains. Hopefully these images convey some of the drama of mountain steam railroading.