Last we heard from Frank Saarni, he was headed to Camp Roberts for Army basic training.

On April 25, 1945, he had finished up with this and left Camp Roberts on SP train 37 with
Pacific 2430 as power to San Jose. From San Jose, he then took train 255 to Oakland with
Pacific 2459. From the time lapse in his notes, it looks like he was allowed a short leave.

On May 4, Frank was on WP 3rd 40 behind GS 486. Although this number was the Exposition Flyer,
the extra sections were likely troop trains. He got to Oroville at 2250. When the train left, it was now running as 1st 40 and got to SLC at 1930 on the 5th.

Frank was on DRGW train 2, the Scenic Limited, out of SLC at 2230 that same evening, It had 1802
as the road engine (typing has over strike here and I'm guessing a bit) with 3509 as a helper from Provo to Soldier Summit. Arrival in Grnd Jct. was at 0715 on the 6th.

Frank continued east, now on 2 again with 1803 which had 3555 (ex-N&W) as a helper from Minturn to Tennesee Pass, arriving Pueblo at 1725 that afternoon. He was out of Pueblo at 2325 on number
15 with engine 1210 and arrived at Alamosa at 0430 on the 7th.

Frank had told me that he was allowed enough travel time that he could afford to take a side trip to see the narrow gauge. He got on DRGW train 115 behind K-28 476 and rode to Durango, arriving at 1605. Frank walked over the the Rio Grande Southern yd., but all that he was able to
find was Goose 7 and 4-6-0 20.

The next morning, he was on return train 116, again with 476 and got to Alamosa at 2030 on the 8th.

About an hour later, he was on sg train 16 to Pueblo with 803 as power, arriving at 0245 on the 9th. Tired, he then continued on 16 to Denver, leaving Pueblo at 0350 and arriving Denver behind engine 1713 at 0715 later the same morning.