Sunday, January 24, 2021

Buena Vista depot resurrection video

Once the DSP&P's terminus for its joint line to Leadville and later the stop on the way to Alpine Tunnel and beyond, Buena Vista had a second South Park depot built in the early 1890s (the railroad, by that point, was now named the Denver, Leadville, & Gunnison, later absorbed in the Colorado & Southern).  The depot survived the C&S's abandonment and was moved to Woodland Brook Cabins to be used as an office and also a residence.  A tragedy that could have led to the former station's demolition, thankfully instead served to lead to the depot's resurrection.  

I put together a short video that chronicles the Buena Vista depot's rescue and renewal in the early 2000s and ends with a short video tour of the interior of the depot today.  Many groups and individuals played important roles in restoring the depot including The Denver, South Park & Pacific Historical Society.

And, for fun, the beginning of the video shows C&S 59 at the depot under simulated live steam in 1918.


Sunday, January 10, 2021

The Idaho Springs depot 1937-2003

The Idaho Springs depot served until the end of the Colorado & Southern narrow gauge in 1941.  Below is how she looked in 1937.
Richard B. Jackson photo from Ferrell's C&Sng book
13 years after the railroad was torn out, the August 1954 edition of Narrow Gauge News noted "C&S ex-Idaho Springs depot is now a gift shop."

About 9 years later, 1963, she looked like the photo below.  A fence has been added.  Also the door between the two end windows has been converted to another window.  The utility pole near the corner is now gone.  The raised freight platform appears to still be intact. The brick building (a hotel I believe) is still standing on the other end.
Kurt Maechner collection
At some point, the depot was moved and converted to a private residence.  According to this site, it is "located 3 miles up highway 103 from Idaho Springs."  It is on the road to Mt. Evans.  The photo below is from February 2002.
Jeff Christlieb photo

The photo below is from 2003
Bob Meckley photo