"Old Maude". Finally spotted in a location where I could get a decently lit shot of her, DRGW Rotary Snow Plow OM occupies one of the storage tracks at the north end of the Chama Yard, just south of the old Gramps oil loading dock.
Nicknamed "Old Maude" because of her railroad designator "OM", this plow was built back in 1889 by the Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works in Patterson, NJ. The oldest of the 4 rotary plows that were built for the Denver & Rio Grande (Western), this particular plow called Chama her home during most of her operational career. Her primary duty was keeping the line to Cumbres Pass open for winter operations. She was last used by the D&RGW in 1957, but has been run a few times since by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for spring line clearing. Unfortunately, it has been nearly 20 years since either the OM or her surviving sister, the OY have been run. Both plows are said to be in decent mechanical condition, but either would require some refurbishment in order to operate again. Alas, even if one of the rotary plows is restored some day, it will likely not be OM. Her sister OY is 34 years newer, and is superheated, so she's probably in better shape and would be more efficient to operate. Time will tell if the railroad will be able to find the funds and the human resources to put one of these machines back to work.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
