The National park special was at Cumbres Colorado on November 24, 1968 according to Rio Grande Narrow Gauge- The Final Years, Alamosa to Chama Pg 80. The three K-28s were suppose to be worked on in Alamosa in the winter of 1967/1968 but only the 476 and 478 made it before winter closed the line. That is why 473 went over in the fall of 1968 and then they shipped it back in December of 1968 just before a major storm that closed the line. They did not want to have to run in 1969! A couple of interesting notes, apparently management wanted the 497 to return to Alamosa for the winter but instead it stayed in Durango. 497 was the last freight locomotive overhauled in 1966 which means they did the work on 481 prior to that but never put a fire to her. The move in December of 1968 moved the 481 the cars from the National Park Special and several cars of company material.

Robby