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It's November 4, 1940, K-27 #452 & K-28 #479 depart Gunnison at 11:40 AM with 1 load 78 empties. The load is gas for Crested Butte 77 of the empties are gondolas headed for Crested Butte for loading, & a caboose brings up the rear.

Crew: Conductor Collett, engineer Gates for the 452, & engineer Braswell for the 479


Tonnage Ratings for the K-27 & K-28 along the Crested Butte Branch*:

K-27: 630 tons Gunnison to Crested Butte

K-28: 660 tons Gunnison to Crested Butte


* This branch was built in 1881 to haul coal to the CF&I plant in Pueblo. There were 2 spurs (Floresta & Anthracite) to tap more coal deposits. The Anthracite spur was gone by 1946 & Floresta by 1929, but the Crested Butte Branch provided a lot of coal right up to 1954 when the CF&I closed the mines & the branch, along with the Baldwin Branch & Marshall Pass line, were pulled up.

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The train rolls through Almont & Jacks Cabin as it continues the uphill climb to Crested Butte.

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After a while, the train pulls into Crested Butte at 1:50 PM.

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At Crested Butte, the 479 runs light to Gunnison, & the 452 does mine work. The train departs Crested Butte at 4:35 PM with 40 loads 2 empties.

Consist:

Loads: 33 coal Salida; 1 no bill coal Gunnison; 4 company coal Gunnison; 1 company coal Alamosa; & 1 company rail Jacks Cabin.

Empties: 1 empty tank Farmington via RGS; & a caboose.

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The train drops off the car of rail at Jacks Cabin, & picks up a load at Almont.

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After a while, the train pulls into Gunnison at 6:30 PM with 40 loads 2 empties.

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