Saturday, March 9, 2024

Visit Sherrod Loop today - video

 Sherrod Loop was the reverse curve that helped the South Park Line climb up to the over-11,000-foot-high Alpine Tunnel. Eastbound, the curve was the gateway to the more famous spots on the line including the Palisades, Split Rock, numerous other rock walls, and the Alpine Tunnel enginehouse. This video highlights the route from Woodstock to Sherrod as it exists today.

Sherrod Loop is at the far right. Alpine Tunnel is reached via top track alignment at left.



Historical sign at Sherrod

Relaid track (presumably laid by the Forest Service). View: eastbound

View: eastbound

View: westbound

View: westbound

View: westbound

View: eastbound, past relaid track

View: eastbound

A short bit upgrade, eastbound, is this telling sign




Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Would you like to buy the Town of Sherrod?

 The former Town of Sherrod, site of Sherrod Loop is for sale! 

from Poor's DSP&P


Check out the listing here.


Here is the description:

Don't miss your opportunity to own a very historic piece of Colorado property known as the Town of Sherrod. This 40 acre parcel was the town site of Sherrod and part of the Sherrod loop on the Alpine tunnel loop. The town of Sherrod was founded in 1903 and had a 3 year span known for its rich silver lodes in the surrounding mountains. The town had 2 hotels, 2 stores, a newspaper and several log cabins. In 1904 the Colorado & Southern Railroad constructed a train depot and a rail spur to move mining ores. Later on that depot was moved down to the town of Ohio City. Elevation of this property is 10,950.

Here is a great photo from the listing site:



Saturday, February 24, 2024

Footage of the C&Sng in the 1930s

I wanted to bring attention to a great video called Excursion to the Thirties which includes a good stretch of C&S narrow gauge film footage.  


I originally posted a clip from a Youtube channel that posted it. Later, I found out that the DVD is still commercially available. In light of this, I removed the video link.

The video is available for purchase at a number of sites including...

Walthers

Railfan Depot

Trainfan Video Depot

In the video you'll see:

Clear Creek segment (1938 and 1939)

Here you'll see...

On August 11th, 1939 C&S 70 working in Idaho Springs.

C&S 69 running light past the Argo Mine

C&S 70 backing with a train of gondolas to Black Hawk

C&S 70 and train returning to Forks Creek

    -you'll see the crew perform a flying switch with caboose 1003

    -keep an eye out for the brakeman when he steps between the caboose and a rapidly approaching boxcar!

C&S 70 and train now eastbound heading for Golden

You'll see C&S 9 and 65 (with one as a midtrain helper) along with caboose 1003 traveling from Golden to Forks Creek on July 19, 1938. C&S 9 is now on display in Breckenridge. 

Leadville Segment (1938)

Here you'll see...

the Leadville depot

the Leadville engine house

C&S 74 switching cars in the Leadville yards on July 6th, 1938 for the Molybdenum mine. The train then heads towards Climax with what appears to be caboose 1009.  C&S engine 74 and caboose 1009 are both now at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden.

Boreas Pass Segment (1938)

Here you'll see..

C&S 71, 8 (dead), and 69 leave Breckenridge for Como on an equipment transport prior to abandonment. C&S 71 is now on display in Central City.

    -Watch for two crew members riding the front of 71 apparently keeping an eye on the unmaintained track

C&S 73, westbound, with a scrap train traveling through Webster on July 19, 1938

The train climbing to the top of Kenosha Pass. 

The train running through Kenosha summit. Track has been relaid at the summit near the site of the wye used to turn helpers.

Later in the day, the same train climbs eastbound up out of the South Park with 69 as helper

After reaching Kenosha summit, C&S 69 uncouples and backs up light to Como


Sunday, February 11, 2024

Big Train Tours - Way Car to Caboose: C&S “Bobber” No. 1009

A few days ago, the Colorado Railroad Museum posted another one of their "Big Train Tour at CRRM" videos. The focus this time was on C&S caboose 1009. It's a fantastic look at the history of the car that trailed the very last narrow gauge C&S train in 1943.  The video also includes photos I hadn't seen before of 1009's time in Buena Vista as a shed.

Additional info:

Here is a segment of a series of articles I wrote about CRRM's history and acquisition of C&Sng equipment.  This segments puts 1009's acquisition in historical context.

Below is the text from CRRM on this video:

Welcome to another Big Train Tour at the Colorado Railroad Museum! Today, we’ll be taking a look at Colorado & Southern caboose No. 1009. This interesting, narrow gauge “way car” dates to 1882, and the early days of the legendary South Park Line’s expansion in Colorado. Acquired by the Museum in 1961 as just a body, this rare survivor has been restored to operating condition and is today proudly displayed in Golden. 

Our subject today is a diminutive, four-wheel narrow-gauge “bobber” caboose built in the shops of its parent railroad. Like many rail vehicles from the 19th century, caboose 6 number 1009 started its life with a different appearance, and it was known as a Way Car for its first two to three decades of service. Renumbered several times during its life, it was rebuilt and modernized, then retired and almost lost. Its very existence today provides a powerful connection with Colorado freight railroading, 9 changes in the railroad safety environment, and the many railroad workers who have helped shape the expansion and settlement of the Centennial State.

Join Executive Director, Paul Hammond as we explore the history of this "Way Car" caboose! 

Here is a post and video I made on C&S 1009 from a fall visit to see her and other C&Sng equipment this past fall.


Wednesday, February 7, 2024

2023 Como work highlights and Boreas drone shots

The Denver, South Park and Pacific Historical Society continually does great work in the old C&S division point of Como (along with the South Park Rail Society).  The video below shows some of their work from open houses and work days in 2023 with upcoming 2024 dates for the similar events.

There are great drone shots of the roundhouse, turntable, and depot.  My favorite is one of locomotive Klondike Kate, dressed down for lots of needed work, on the turntable. 

Below that video are some great drone video shots along the old C&S Boreas Pass route also produced by the DSP&P historical society.

Enjoy!




Friday, January 19, 2024

Georgetown Loop history video

The video below is at least 12 years old, but it tells some good history of the creation of the Georgetown Loop as well as its rebuilt version.  They also tell a bit of a story that I find fascinating: the process required to move the impending I-70 up on the mountainside so that the Loop could be saved.

Focus on the railroad begins around 3:43



Speaking of old Georgetown Loop videos, here is one from when I rode the line in 1991 with Westside Shay No. 14 (now named after Rosa Ashby who along with her husband Lindsey played such a huge role in bringing the Georgetown Loop back to life in the early 1970s). I unearthed this old family video of a 1991 ride behind No. 14 on the Loop.  The titles, editing, and music are from a long time ago so my apologies for its aged appearance!  Unfortunately, the original sources remain on some old VHS-C tape somewhere.  Along the way, you will get some glimpses of D&RGW freight cars and at 5:17 you can see C&S 2-6-0 No. 9 still in red paint sitting on Morning Star siding.  Pulling into Silver Plume you get a glimpse of Oahu Railway and Land Co. diesel 15 and at the end you'll see Shay No. 12 steamed up outside the engine house).

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Following the C&S through Platte Canyon video - Muldoon to Dome Rock to Westall Monument

This is the next video in a series I'm working on that follows the old DSP&P/C&S roadbed through Platte Canyon.  Using footage provided by Phil Stock, this segment starts from a little past Muldoon (later known as Vermillion).  From there we follow the South Platte River to Longview, followed by a station stop at Dome Rock.  Dome Rock is a curious geological formation across the river.  The station at Dome Rock is no longer in existence, but Phil stops close to where it once stood.

Finally, as we head toward the site of the Dome Rock water tower, the video briefly tells the fateful story of the 1898 wreck of Billy Westall's train.  This video's journey ends at the monument that honors Westall's sacrifice.