1980 C&S News (1) - Bucking snow with a diesel and more

A wealth of railfan history exists in the archives of the Rocky Mountain Rail Report, the newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club started in 1939.  Here is some miscellaneous South Park Line/C&S-related news from the 1980 editions.   

1980

March

(South Park Railroader turns 96)

George Champion in Como, standing next to his jeep, 1961
Denver Public Library, Western History Collection,
W.C. Steele photo, X-7525

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS go out to club member George Champion, who will be 96 years old on February 22. A South Park native, George was born at the Herman Litner Ranch, about a mile north of Jefferson. His father ran a store at Webster, Colorado, and as the DSP&P Railroad construction progressed, the family moved to Jefferson, and later to Como. George Champion grew up in Como, and after his school years, served his machinist apprenticeship in the Como roundhouse. Happy Birthday, George! 

May

(Man Who Helped Poor's DSP&P Get Published Dies)

Charlie Ryland, 5th from left, Aug. 29, 1953
visiting the old Alpine Tunnel boarding house.
Denver Public Library, Western History Collection,
George A. Trout photo, Z-10963

ON SATURDAY MORNING, April 12, 1980, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club lost one of its most illustrious members with the death of Charles S. Ryland, at age 62. Officers and members of the club offer their condolences to his wife, Elsie, daughter, Clare, and son, Fred. Contributions may be sent to the Charles S. Ryland Memorial Fund, Golden Library, 923 Tenth Street, Golden, Colorado 80401. The fund will be used to enhance the library's Western collection. 

Charlie Ryland joined the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club in 1945, shortly after his return from service with the U. S. Navy in World War II. He became president of the club in 1947, and immediately tightened up the organization, eliminating from the mailing list the names of many who had not paid club dues for many years. He printed up the club's first membership roster, which included 90 dues-paying members. He arranged the club's first steam-powered excursion on the Rio Grande Southern, and our first trip over Marshall Pass and through the Black Canyon on the D&RGW. He was also instrumental in persuading the Denver & Intermountain officials to run private interurban trips for the club. Through his public relations expertise and publicity fostered by the excursions, club membership had grown to 225 at the end of his term as president. 

It was Charlie Ryland who suggested to Mac Poor that perhaps the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club could publish his Denver, South Park & Pacific book, after it had been turned down by the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society because of the manuscript's great size, launching the club on the first of its many publishing ventures. For years, Charlie's basement printing press in Golden was the source of the club's beautifully embossed membership cards, excursion tickets, and give-away sheets and booklets for club trips. No one will ever be able to sum up the number of hours this good man unstintingly devoted to the club, and much or our fine reputation can be attributed to his efforts. Charlie will also be remembered for some of the club's most memorable and humorous monthly programs. 

Charlie Ryland was a man of many hobbies, the most prominent being railroading, photography, writing, Colorado history, printing, and rock and gem collecting. 

His first love was railroading, and he ardently rode the rails throughout the world. He probably traveled on more railroads than any other member. He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten by his hundreds of friends in this and the many other organizations that he served so well and so willingly. 

(Ed Haley) 

July
(Club Hike of Gilpin Tram Grade)

AUGUST FIELD TRIP - Well, it's time to dust off the ol' walking shoes for the club's upcoming hike and field trip on Saturday, August 9. This year, we've decided to explore a portion of a rather unique but seldom thought about railroad that served one of Colorado's most important mining areas, Central City. The railroad was the 2 foot gauge Gilpin Tram, a line constructed in the late 1800's  to serve the many mines in the Central City-Black Hawk area. Today, little remains of the railroad, however, winding grades, switchbacks and hand-made stone walls still provide tantalizing evidence of its once sprawling operation in the district. 

Excursion train on Gilpin Tramway, 1880-1910
Denver Public Library, Western History Collection,
W.C. Steele photo, Z-2042

Our hike will cover a little over two miles of a relatively scenic portion of the grade between Black Hawk and Central City. Out of view of the "touristy" part of the valley, the walk will take us up around Chase Gulch and high above Central City, where Ranniger's Roadbed Commissary will be waiting to serve lunch. After eating, downtown Central City's many shops and stores can be visited. In the early afternoon, a ride on the 3-foot gauge Colorado Central, behind their Three Truck Shay No. 14, will be in store with an opportunity to photograph the train out on the line. 

The cost to participate in the hike will be $4.00 per person, and will include a handout, hot lunch, and a shuttle service from your car to the starting point of the hike. A reduced fare of $2.00 will be available for the Colorado Central, but those tickets should be purchased at the railroad station separately that afternoon. Exact meeting time and directions for the hike will be included with ticket orders, and please note that tickets for the hike MUST be purchased in advance. We look forward to seeing you there! Any questions can be directed to Darrell Arndt at 321-2723 (until about 10:30 P.M.). 

(C&S Diesel Bucks Snow on Leadville High Line)

THE PERILS of mountain railroading in early spring showed themselves recently on the Leadville-Climax Branch of the Colorado & Southern Railway. On Wednesday, May 7, a large rock was discovered,

Engine 6219 and C&S caboose 10401 at Leadville roundhouse.
Denver Public Library, Western History Collection,
Bob Richardson photo, RR-1265

which had rolled down the mountain and was blocking the track about a mile above French Gulch Tank. After this obstacle was removed by the section crew, a long snowslide was found to have run down Prospect Mountain and across the line, high above the valley and just beyond the area of the Prospector Inn. On Thursday, May 8, Engine 6223 was run light from Leadville and plowed through this mass of trees, rocks and heavy wet snow, making five passes at the slide in the process. Engine and crew then returned to Leadville, picked up their train, and the regular round-trip to Climax was made without further problem.