1980 C&S News (2) - C&S Diesel Wreck Near French Gulch Water Tank

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 more miscellaneous South Park Line/C&S-related news from the 1980 editions.   

1980

August

(C&S Diesel Plummets 60 feet Near French Gulch Water Tank)

LC&S collection photo. from
High Line to Leadville by Doris B. Osterwald

BILL MAY, C&S ROUNDHOUSE FOREMAN at Leadville, is offering a substantial reward for the elimination of the pesky muskrats responsible for the recent upsetting of C&S Engine 6223, on the Leadville-Climax Branch. Seems as how these villainous critters tunneled around the culvert in the fill at French Gulch on the high country rail line, causing spring run-off waters to wash out said fill and leave the C&S track hanging high and dry. Imagine the surprise of the crew on the return trip to Leadville, when they approached French Gulch and found these conditions. Fortunately, the engineer and brakeman were able to unload in time to avoid injury, but Engine 6223 was not so fortunate and plunged 60 feet down the mountain. None of the cars in the short train chose to follow the engine. [Ed. Actually, one tank car partially went into the crevasse] All of this excitement took place on June 23, and it was not until June 29 that the 6223 was hauled back up the bank and onto the rails. A new fill has been constructed and the branch is back in operation with Engine 6219 handling the work. Now, if I can just find that old musket. [Ed. In a not-so-humorous follow-up, when 6223 was taken back to Leadville, the engine was shoved by 6220 onto the wye a bit too hard. The back end of the engine went off the end-of-track. Since the roadbed was slightly elevated, the engine played a game of see-saw]

LC&S collection photo from
High Line to Leadville by Doris B. Osterwald

September

(Eye-Witness to Last C&Sng Passenger Run Shows Video Footage)

Helen McGraw Tatum thrilled the capacity audience at the August club meeting with her presentation, LAST RUN OF ENGINE #9. This nostalgic look at life on the South Park Division of the Colorado & Southern Railway presented not only train operations on the narrow gauge line, but also scenes of the communities served by the famous railroad. OSHA would just love the ice-cutting process and loading of the large blocks of ice into the narrow guage boxcars as seen in this 45-year-old movie. Cattle ranching, a July 4th celebration at Bailey, and views of everyday life in the area combined with some classic train shots for a most memorable evening.

[Ed. Below is a short clip from Tatum's film with shots of No. 9 and other C&S locomotives]

 

If you can track it down, the DVD of the whole video is available:

December

(Signatures of Pictorial Supplement of DSP&P - 25 Cents!)

IN THE PRINTING OF BOOKS, several pages are printed at a time on one large sheet of paper, which is then folded to form a section of the book. These sets of 16 or 32 pages are called SIGNATURES, which are ultimately assembled and bound into the finished product. The Archives Committee of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club will offer for sale at the December meeting, signatures from the club's 1959 publication, "Pictorial Supplement to Denver South Park & Pacific," by R. H. Kindig, E. J. Haley, and M. C. Poor. Containing 16 pages, these sections of the hard-to-find book are filled with interesting text and pictures on Colorado's most memorable narrow gauge railroad. Also available from the club's archives at the December meeting, will be a beautiful selection of 8"xll" color prints from the same publication. Ideal for your own collection or just in time for Christmas, signatures and prints are priced at only 25 cents per copy, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

★ ★ ★ ★ 

SIGNATURES AUCTION - In cataloging the signatures from the "Pictorial Supplement to Denver South Park & Pacific," Assistant Archivist Keith Kirby has assembled three sets which comprise virtually complete copies of the book. In an effort to make these available to folks who might not own copies of the publication, these signatures will be sold as complete sets. At the December club meeting, two sets of the Pictorial Supplement signatures will be auctioned, with Erwin (Going, Going, Gone) Chaim conducting the sale. Here is a great opportunity to obtain one of the most popular Rocky Mountain Railroad Club books, while supporting the Archives Fund at the same time. 

The Publications Committee made a concerted effort and sold over 350 copies of the Memorial edition of D.S.P. & P. Soft cover booklets that were published by the club, years ago, have been reviewed and will be reprinted in 1981, for free distribution to members.