I found some interesting footage of Central City from 1977. It shows the Colorado Central Narrow Gauge Railroad's boarding site apparently after hours or on a day off. At first there are shots of C&S 71 and combine No. 20 on static display. The focus then shifts to Shay No. 14 (this is the year that No. 40 followed No. 44 over to Silver Plume leaving No. 14 as sole power) and the rider cars for the tourist railroad there. No. 14 arrived at the CCNG in 1974 from the defunct Camino Cable & Northern. The Shay was purchased because of its ability to negotiate a sharp curve that the CCNG planned to construct to avoid rebuilding Mountain City trestle.
Showing posts with label Colorado Central. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado Central. Show all posts
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Central City Railroad meeting - What happened?
Since hearing about a meeting in Central City where a group called the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum presented its vision to restore C&S 71 and her attached baggage car to operation, I have been eager to hear what actually happened there. I posted the question on Central City's Facebook page post about the meeting, but never received a response. Then I located the following article by Jaclyn Schrock in The Weekly Register-Call.
In the article, posted October 31st, 2019, Schrock details the proceedings of the meeting. It comes off overly optimistic in my opinion, though I wish them well. While I certainly have no first hand knowledge of how to construct a tourist railroad, even I know that the existence of "an abundance of grant opportunities to restore trains" can hardly be accurate.
Despite my skepticism, I would love to be wrong! If this venture could be accomplished with honesty and respect for the historical equipment (unlike what seemed to have occurred during the late '80s-one individual of which is directly involved with this new incarnation), then it would be a delight to see.
We can see the Colorado and Southern engine #71 with a baggage car on display at the Grand Z Casino and Hotel in Central City, resting after discontinuing service with the tourist train in 1990. At that time #71 was owned by the Gilpin Historical Society, since transferred to Central City. These are the two original pieces of 1870-1949 Colorado and Southern Railroad to be used in starting up phase one of the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum.
On Wednesday, October 23, from 6-8 p.m. the Little Kingdom Room in the Teller House was the gathering place for Central City historic train enthusiasts. The news that “the train is coming” was presented by flyers emailed or posted on social media. Braving the blizzard, about 25 people filled the room along with JKQ menu service, free snacks and beverages. One wall had three posters set on tables displaying photos and text explaining CCRMM’s plan to restore a tourist train beginning in Central City.
The purpose of the meeting was to make public information of the historical hands-on experience plan. Input from the local community was requested about the inclusion of the railroad and mining museum anticipating potential impact regarding more traffic for a hands-on and limited traditional static museum experiences.
The presentation began with Johnny Knapp, CCRMM Secretary enthusiastically announcing the nonprofit status being obtained along with a lease on 220 Spring Street. The funds appear to be in place to construct a temporary facility to dismantle and assure compliance with the mechanisms of engine #71. Moving the locomotive and baggage car to the workshop would follow construction of the building. The temporary design could facilitate a move if or when other station and rail yard options developed.
18,000 feet of track is part of the first phase of the railroad’s plan to allow up 25,000 railroad riders to enjoy the hands-on experience the first summer season. The rail bed would also need to be inspected and made secure for the one way travel of the train to return in reverse. Volunteers are welcomed to join in the restoration and other projects. Dream along with CCRMM on the other phases they ponder with realistic paths to arrive there.
Mr. Knapp explained that CCRMM’s board included himself as Secretary, Bob Bassett acting as President, and Court Hammond, CCRMM’s Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Bassett was unable to attend Wednesday’s gathering. A local citizens’ question about bylaws for CCRMM was answered with an assurance that those are in place and can be made available to those interested.
Also present and speaking was Candice Rosenberger, who brings financial and marketing experience along with personnel relations management to the project. She is working in the capacity of a grant writer as well with CCRMM and enthusiastic to make this dream reality.
It was recognized that there was an abundance of grant opportunities to restore trains. Most require that the rolling stock be owned by a nonprofit group to make funds available. CCRMM is offering options to Central City to consider providing funding to seek further funding to progress the project, or with responsible negotiations release ownership of #71 and the baggage car from Central City to another nonprofit organization. Many opportunities are on the horizon.
Court Hammond was with the previous tourist railroad between Central City and Black Hawk which ran in the late 1980’s. The original passenger and freight train ran from 1878 to 1931. Mr. Hammond is familiar with the operations, correctives learned from experience, and many of the train’s resources origin, condition, and current resting places.
Questions had a wide range, including sparks, noise, and parking from the previous experience with a steam train running through town. All were answered with plans for improvements, including testing various whistles for the residents to select their preferences of the required sounds to warn locals of the train’s forward, backward, and stopping activities. Many locals offered suggestions for potential growth for the project.
Many in the Little Kingdom Room remember the way people came to Central City to relive the experience of riding the train, mining, and hardships of those who settled Gilpin County. In the 1970’s visitors conquered the challenge of steep slopes to contemplate novelties of the ice cream, rock shop, and antique shops. Many still tell tales of who worked in the various restaurants and saloons, living out the ghostly life in the 1980’s of Gilpin County’s government seat. Yet, the tourist train and the city’s charm kept people coming up this mountain, even before the current draw of casinos.
From 1987 through 1990 nearly 55,000 riders boarded the steam engine’s cars to ride the narrow gauge rails between Central City and Black Hawk. Our locally revived steam train, Black Hawk and Central City Tourist Railroad, was part of a travel package for tourists to experience all the narrow gauge trains in Colorado.
The original bridge near the City Hall in Black Hawk was an icon for memories, with the whistles and smoke and well-traveled historians smiling and waving. Seeing the train on that bridge or riding the curves to climb 540 feet in elevation in 4 miles of track, helped many to understand what it took to having mining communities in these mountains, after the Civil War. That steep elevation rise could be traveled with a donkey in a mile, but took over 4 miles of track to make the trip with the elevation changes by train.
The station for the tourist train of the 1980’s in Central City was the former Weekly Register-Call building at 220 Spring Street. The original 1881 Central City train station was buried under mine tailings, and covered with rocks to avoid health concerns at the end of the Big-T parking lot near Central’s City Hall.
Back in 1872, the original old Black Hawk RR station was a stone building that stopped the train from going farther upstream. The Colorado and Southern Railroad had regular trains transporting goods between Denver through Golden and up Clear Creek to that junction (now HWY 119 and US 6 just below the Z-Stop gas station).
From that junction, trains could take the south fork to Idaho Springs, Georgetown, and Silver Plum, or the north fork to Black Hawk and a spur to Floyd Hill. It took six more years to go beyond the stone Black Hawk depot. Improvements graded the railroad bed to progress two more miles up the north fork of Clear Creek to switch back briefly running parallel to the tracks by Clear Creek, 400’ higher in elevation reaching Central City and hoped for Nevadaville.
1881 travel guide books for the Black Hawk/ Central City train ride assured travelers this section was not to be missed.
Late 1980 guests were thrilled by the experience to ride the coal-powered steam train in passenger cars donated by the Rio Grande RR, now that gas engines are the most frequent modes of transportation.
According to Mr. Hammond, the Colorado and Southern (C&G) narrow-gauge lines were formed in 1898 from multiple reformations of railroads. These lines connected Colorado Central and the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroads. The narrow gauge tracks benefited travel in mountain terrain. The four distinct lines united as the Colorado and Southern Railroad included:
The Platte Canyon line from Denver to Como, Colorado
The Gunnison line from Como to Gunnison, via Alpine Tunnel
Highline between Como and Leadville
The Clear Creek line from Denver to Silver Plum, and our branch between Forks Creek and Central City
Major branch lines of the C&G narrow-gauge included: The Gunnison and Baldwin, the Keystone from Dickey, the Black Hawk branch, the Morrison Branch from Denver to Morrison, and the Alma branch from Alma to Como.
The Colorado and Southern, Wikipedia said, did not get new engines, but inherited and used 56 engines in 1900 from the parent railroads. Mr. Hammond says by 1940 the number of engines was down to 15, with five remaining today: #191 is at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. #9 is in Breckenridge. #60 is in Idaho Springs. #74 is in Boulder, and #71 is in Central City.
Engine #71 ran over the entire C&G system, being one of the heaviest engines. It made many trips from Denver to Como, Breckenridge, and Leadville. When segments of those lines were abandoned between 1935-38, #71 ran from Denver to Golden and up Clear Creek to Black Hawk and Idaho Springs.
#71 made its last trip in September of 1940. It was retired in April of 1941 and moved to Black Hawk. Later it was trucked to Central City and put on display at 220 Spring Street.
Current Colorado narrow gauge trains operating include:
–The Georgetown Loop Railroad, part of the old C&S system which served 142,000 passengers in 2018.
–Durango and Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad, with 213,000 passengers in 2018.
–Cubres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, Antonito, Colorado with 52,800 passengers in 2018.
Mr. Hammond recognizes many demographic changes in Central City since the former tourist train stopped running. Thirty years ago, it was an addition to the attractions of the historic city’s buildings, cemeteries, and shops with the Opera House, Gilpin Historical Society Visitor’s Center and Museums, and the Hidee Mine.
In 2020, the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum experience hopes to be the anchor of attractions, offering a hands-on thrill. The inclusion of the Art Museum, summer festivals, weekly historical re-enactments and casino choices also draws others to the area.
Emphasizing the hands-on aspect of the mining railroad is the fresh approach for the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum experience. The CCRMM is a drawing source for visitation, because of its broad appeal for visual and hands-on experiences.
Studies analyzing tourism show that more people are looking for live, active history, versus stationary attractions. The CCRMM would draw more people to the towns of Central City and Black Hawk, and increases the time that visitors who are already in town spend experiencing the rest of the attractions that exist in the area.
What do you think about reviving historic train traffic in Gilpin County? Let Central City and Black Hawk know how you feel as they consider these destination attractions to our historic mountain community.
Link to the article at the Weekly Register-Call.
In the article, posted October 31st, 2019, Schrock details the proceedings of the meeting. It comes off overly optimistic in my opinion, though I wish them well. While I certainly have no first hand knowledge of how to construct a tourist railroad, even I know that the existence of "an abundance of grant opportunities to restore trains" can hardly be accurate.
Despite my skepticism, I would love to be wrong! If this venture could be accomplished with honesty and respect for the historical equipment (unlike what seemed to have occurred during the late '80s-one individual of which is directly involved with this new incarnation), then it would be a delight to see.
*Below is Jaclyn Schrock's article:
The train whistle could be heard in Central City again. Hopes circle like coal smoke for the chugging of steel wheels on 42” narrow gauge rails, July 4th, 2020. As a nonprofit group, Central City Railroad and Mining Museum (CCRMM) has made progress to restore the old train right of ways and acquiring IRS nonprofit status. Nonprofit grants for trains and History Colorado, diligent volunteer efforts cooperating with local government decisions can make reality the revival of engine #71 powered by steam, as in days gone by.We can see the Colorado and Southern engine #71 with a baggage car on display at the Grand Z Casino and Hotel in Central City, resting after discontinuing service with the tourist train in 1990. At that time #71 was owned by the Gilpin Historical Society, since transferred to Central City. These are the two original pieces of 1870-1949 Colorado and Southern Railroad to be used in starting up phase one of the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum.
On Wednesday, October 23, from 6-8 p.m. the Little Kingdom Room in the Teller House was the gathering place for Central City historic train enthusiasts. The news that “the train is coming” was presented by flyers emailed or posted on social media. Braving the blizzard, about 25 people filled the room along with JKQ menu service, free snacks and beverages. One wall had three posters set on tables displaying photos and text explaining CCRMM’s plan to restore a tourist train beginning in Central City.
The purpose of the meeting was to make public information of the historical hands-on experience plan. Input from the local community was requested about the inclusion of the railroad and mining museum anticipating potential impact regarding more traffic for a hands-on and limited traditional static museum experiences.
The presentation began with Johnny Knapp, CCRMM Secretary enthusiastically announcing the nonprofit status being obtained along with a lease on 220 Spring Street. The funds appear to be in place to construct a temporary facility to dismantle and assure compliance with the mechanisms of engine #71. Moving the locomotive and baggage car to the workshop would follow construction of the building. The temporary design could facilitate a move if or when other station and rail yard options developed.
18,000 feet of track is part of the first phase of the railroad’s plan to allow up 25,000 railroad riders to enjoy the hands-on experience the first summer season. The rail bed would also need to be inspected and made secure for the one way travel of the train to return in reverse. Volunteers are welcomed to join in the restoration and other projects. Dream along with CCRMM on the other phases they ponder with realistic paths to arrive there.
Mr. Knapp explained that CCRMM’s board included himself as Secretary, Bob Bassett acting as President, and Court Hammond, CCRMM’s Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Bassett was unable to attend Wednesday’s gathering. A local citizens’ question about bylaws for CCRMM was answered with an assurance that those are in place and can be made available to those interested.
Also present and speaking was Candice Rosenberger, who brings financial and marketing experience along with personnel relations management to the project. She is working in the capacity of a grant writer as well with CCRMM and enthusiastic to make this dream reality.
It was recognized that there was an abundance of grant opportunities to restore trains. Most require that the rolling stock be owned by a nonprofit group to make funds available. CCRMM is offering options to Central City to consider providing funding to seek further funding to progress the project, or with responsible negotiations release ownership of #71 and the baggage car from Central City to another nonprofit organization. Many opportunities are on the horizon.
Court Hammond was with the previous tourist railroad between Central City and Black Hawk which ran in the late 1980’s. The original passenger and freight train ran from 1878 to 1931. Mr. Hammond is familiar with the operations, correctives learned from experience, and many of the train’s resources origin, condition, and current resting places.
Questions had a wide range, including sparks, noise, and parking from the previous experience with a steam train running through town. All were answered with plans for improvements, including testing various whistles for the residents to select their preferences of the required sounds to warn locals of the train’s forward, backward, and stopping activities. Many locals offered suggestions for potential growth for the project.
Many in the Little Kingdom Room remember the way people came to Central City to relive the experience of riding the train, mining, and hardships of those who settled Gilpin County. In the 1970’s visitors conquered the challenge of steep slopes to contemplate novelties of the ice cream, rock shop, and antique shops. Many still tell tales of who worked in the various restaurants and saloons, living out the ghostly life in the 1980’s of Gilpin County’s government seat. Yet, the tourist train and the city’s charm kept people coming up this mountain, even before the current draw of casinos.
From 1987 through 1990 nearly 55,000 riders boarded the steam engine’s cars to ride the narrow gauge rails between Central City and Black Hawk. Our locally revived steam train, Black Hawk and Central City Tourist Railroad, was part of a travel package for tourists to experience all the narrow gauge trains in Colorado.
The original bridge near the City Hall in Black Hawk was an icon for memories, with the whistles and smoke and well-traveled historians smiling and waving. Seeing the train on that bridge or riding the curves to climb 540 feet in elevation in 4 miles of track, helped many to understand what it took to having mining communities in these mountains, after the Civil War. That steep elevation rise could be traveled with a donkey in a mile, but took over 4 miles of track to make the trip with the elevation changes by train.
The station for the tourist train of the 1980’s in Central City was the former Weekly Register-Call building at 220 Spring Street. The original 1881 Central City train station was buried under mine tailings, and covered with rocks to avoid health concerns at the end of the Big-T parking lot near Central’s City Hall.
Back in 1872, the original old Black Hawk RR station was a stone building that stopped the train from going farther upstream. The Colorado and Southern Railroad had regular trains transporting goods between Denver through Golden and up Clear Creek to that junction (now HWY 119 and US 6 just below the Z-Stop gas station).
From that junction, trains could take the south fork to Idaho Springs, Georgetown, and Silver Plum, or the north fork to Black Hawk and a spur to Floyd Hill. It took six more years to go beyond the stone Black Hawk depot. Improvements graded the railroad bed to progress two more miles up the north fork of Clear Creek to switch back briefly running parallel to the tracks by Clear Creek, 400’ higher in elevation reaching Central City and hoped for Nevadaville.
1881 travel guide books for the Black Hawk/ Central City train ride assured travelers this section was not to be missed.
Late 1980 guests were thrilled by the experience to ride the coal-powered steam train in passenger cars donated by the Rio Grande RR, now that gas engines are the most frequent modes of transportation.
According to Mr. Hammond, the Colorado and Southern (C&G) narrow-gauge lines were formed in 1898 from multiple reformations of railroads. These lines connected Colorado Central and the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroads. The narrow gauge tracks benefited travel in mountain terrain. The four distinct lines united as the Colorado and Southern Railroad included:
The Platte Canyon line from Denver to Como, Colorado
The Gunnison line from Como to Gunnison, via Alpine Tunnel
Highline between Como and Leadville
The Clear Creek line from Denver to Silver Plum, and our branch between Forks Creek and Central City
Major branch lines of the C&G narrow-gauge included: The Gunnison and Baldwin, the Keystone from Dickey, the Black Hawk branch, the Morrison Branch from Denver to Morrison, and the Alma branch from Alma to Como.
The Colorado and Southern, Wikipedia said, did not get new engines, but inherited and used 56 engines in 1900 from the parent railroads. Mr. Hammond says by 1940 the number of engines was down to 15, with five remaining today: #191 is at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. #9 is in Breckenridge. #60 is in Idaho Springs. #74 is in Boulder, and #71 is in Central City.
Engine #71 ran over the entire C&G system, being one of the heaviest engines. It made many trips from Denver to Como, Breckenridge, and Leadville. When segments of those lines were abandoned between 1935-38, #71 ran from Denver to Golden and up Clear Creek to Black Hawk and Idaho Springs.
#71 made its last trip in September of 1940. It was retired in April of 1941 and moved to Black Hawk. Later it was trucked to Central City and put on display at 220 Spring Street.
Current Colorado narrow gauge trains operating include:
–The Georgetown Loop Railroad, part of the old C&S system which served 142,000 passengers in 2018.
–Durango and Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad, with 213,000 passengers in 2018.
–Cubres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, Antonito, Colorado with 52,800 passengers in 2018.
Mr. Hammond recognizes many demographic changes in Central City since the former tourist train stopped running. Thirty years ago, it was an addition to the attractions of the historic city’s buildings, cemeteries, and shops with the Opera House, Gilpin Historical Society Visitor’s Center and Museums, and the Hidee Mine.
In 2020, the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum experience hopes to be the anchor of attractions, offering a hands-on thrill. The inclusion of the Art Museum, summer festivals, weekly historical re-enactments and casino choices also draws others to the area.
Emphasizing the hands-on aspect of the mining railroad is the fresh approach for the Central City Railroad and Mining Museum experience. The CCRMM is a drawing source for visitation, because of its broad appeal for visual and hands-on experiences.
Studies analyzing tourism show that more people are looking for live, active history, versus stationary attractions. The CCRMM would draw more people to the towns of Central City and Black Hawk, and increases the time that visitors who are already in town spend experiencing the rest of the attractions that exist in the area.
What do you think about reviving historic train traffic in Gilpin County? Let Central City and Black Hawk know how you feel as they consider these destination attractions to our historic mountain community.
Link to the article at the Weekly Register-Call.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
C&S "Gondola freight rail car gets new lease on life"
I found the following article by Patty Unruh from last year that does a nice job telling about the movement and background of the last narrow gauge C&S gondola, no. 4319.
Also, here's a video I posted a little while ago with some of the photos and video of 4319 from 1941 to the present.
Also, here's a video I posted a little while ago with some of the photos and video of 4319 from 1941 to the present.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Central City and Idaho Springs Then-And-Now
I found this video of Central City and Idaho Springs enjoyable. While there is only one then-and-now of a railroad shot, it is worth a look. It shows what appears to be the scrap train pulled by No. 70 along Clear Creek. The slideshow then shows the same spot today. This can be found at 5:49.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
C&S narrow gauge mileage is growing! Update
* This is an update to a previous post. On December 30th, 2017, a short section of track was laid at Pine, Colorado. See below for details.
In the first half of the twentieth century, the years went up, but the mileage of the C&S kept going down. Minus the Climax to Leadville line, the last narrow gauge C&S-owned rail to be pulled would be from Chatfield to Denver completed by December 1942, leaving the route standard gauged and finally the narrow gauge rails at Union Terminal and the yards at Denver, finished by the 15th of April in 1943.
In the first half of the twentieth century, the years went up, but the mileage of the C&S kept going down. Minus the Climax to Leadville line, the last narrow gauge C&S-owned rail to be pulled would be from Chatfield to Denver completed by December 1942, leaving the route standard gauged and finally the narrow gauge rails at Union Terminal and the yards at Denver, finished by the 15th of April in 1943.
The big finale, of course, was when the narrow gauge rails were uprooted from the now standard gauged Climax to Leadville route after the final narrow gauge run on August 25th, 1943. Technically speaking, C&S rails still held on from Gunnison to the Baldwin Mines, albeit under the "new" ownership of the D&RGW, but were eventually gone by the 1950s.
It struck me, however, that there is more C&S narrow gauge trackage today than over fifty years ago. The mileage of this lost railroad has actually increased since the mid twentieth century as tourist routes have sprung up and historical displays and re-creations have dotted the Colorado landscape.
I don't have exact amounts in terms of mileage, but I thought it would be curious to recount the number of places that now (or still) sport C&S narrow gauge track.
Original track still in place
Length of Alpine Tunnel
Reconstructed track on original roadbed
Silver Plume to Devil's Gate Viaduct
Wye on Kenosha Pass
Rocky Point on Boreas Pass
Snowplow park, Breckenridge
Como
Sherrod Curve
Display Parks
Tracks are on or in the vicinity of former C&S roadbed
Boreas Pass
Silver Plume (The caboose is now indoors under restoration, so I'm not sure the status of the track at present)
Central City
Idaho Springs
Pine
On December 30th, 2017 a short stretch of track was built on the old right-of-way to display a narrow gauge gondola in honor of the South Park's heritage in Pine, once the location of a coaling dock. The car is a D&RGW high side gondola, acquired from Lindsey Ashby.
On December 30th, 2017 a short stretch of track was built on the old right-of-way to display a narrow gauge gondola in honor of the South Park's heritage in Pine, once the location of a coaling dock. The car is a D&RGW high side gondola, acquired from Lindsey Ashby.
 |
| Shelly Means photo, December 30, 2017 |
Reconstructed track that was later removed
Central City towards Black Hawk-twice rebuilt and removed
First time
Second time
Georgetown depot
(I don't recall what is still here. At one point Central American Railways #44 was displayed on track outside the old Georgetown depot. I know #44 is gone, but I am not sure if track remains)
And the great news is: the mileage keeps growing! Especially in Como this year!
References:
Poor, Mac. DSP&P pp. 412-3
Midyette, Jason. "A gondola for Pine." The Bogies and the Loop, January 2018.
Midyette, Jason. "A gondola for Pine." The Bogies and the Loop, January 2018.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Drone footage of the C&S right-of-way in Central City
I have long been interested in the two resurrections of the C&S railway in Central City. I wrote an article in The Bogies and the Loop not too long ago chronicling both endeavors. I've also written some posts about it as well including looking at C&S post abandonment mileage, a look at some 1968 shots of the first reincarnation, a look at the curious track engine used on the second reincarnation, and a look at combination car No. 20. The article on the five remaining C&S locos also discusses these tourist routes in the history of engine 71.
But just the other day I happened on a very unique video on Youtube where someone used a drone to film the entire length of the abandoned Blackhawk and Central City Narrow Gauge Railroad right of way (as the tourist route was named in the late 1980's). Never having had the chance to walk this old grade, the video gives a great sense of the route as it snakes around the mountainous terrain.
The video begins at the spot where No. 71 and her gondola and combine were first put on display in 1941. The spot also served as the boarding site for the next two tourist railroads that used the grade. Directly across the street is a parking lot that has a hill next to it. That hill, made of mine tailings, is actually on top of the second Central City depot. The mine tailings simply buried the building over the years.
No. 71 was moved next to a casino. Can anyone spot it in the video? I haven't noticed it yet.
The Rocky Mountain Flyers, who produced the video have the following as a caption: "Second run of our Litchi waypoint mission to film the rail bed of the old Black Hawk to Central City Railroad. Hopefully to become an active line again. Google Earth programmed mission, tweaked in Litchi hub, flown on Phantom 3 4K drone in the mountains of Colorado."
I would love to know what "Hopefully to become an active line again" means!
I found out that they also posted the same video again but zoomed in.
But just the other day I happened on a very unique video on Youtube where someone used a drone to film the entire length of the abandoned Blackhawk and Central City Narrow Gauge Railroad right of way (as the tourist route was named in the late 1980's). Never having had the chance to walk this old grade, the video gives a great sense of the route as it snakes around the mountainous terrain.
The video begins at the spot where No. 71 and her gondola and combine were first put on display in 1941. The spot also served as the boarding site for the next two tourist railroads that used the grade. Directly across the street is a parking lot that has a hill next to it. That hill, made of mine tailings, is actually on top of the second Central City depot. The mine tailings simply buried the building over the years.
No. 71 was moved next to a casino. Can anyone spot it in the video? I haven't noticed it yet.
The Rocky Mountain Flyers, who produced the video have the following as a caption: "Second run of our Litchi waypoint mission to film the rail bed of the old Black Hawk to Central City Railroad. Hopefully to become an active line again. Google Earth programmed mission, tweaked in Litchi hub, flown on Phantom 3 4K drone in the mountains of Colorado."
I would love to know what "Hopefully to become an active line again" means!
I found out that they also posted the same video again but zoomed in.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Great 1968 shots of the Central City Narrow Gauge
The construction, operation, abandonment, reconstruction, "new" operation, and reabandonment of the tourist railroads in Central City has always fascinated me. Where else can you find a tourist route that was a rebuilding that was rebuilt and abandoned twice?
I happened across a group of photos I had not seen before of the construction and first year of operation of the Central City Narrow Gauge at the following site. This was the RR operated by Lindsey Ashby who later moved to run the Georgetown Loop railroad until the early 2000s.
Because the photos are for sale I didn't want to post them here, but they are great to look at. Several photos show the grade being prepared in 1968 in Central City and track being laid. There are wonderful shots of engine 44 in operation as well.
The site also includes a 1988 photo of a DSP&P bridge abutment north of Nathrop.
Enjoy!
I happened across a group of photos I had not seen before of the construction and first year of operation of the Central City Narrow Gauge at the following site. This was the RR operated by Lindsey Ashby who later moved to run the Georgetown Loop railroad until the early 2000s.
Because the photos are for sale I didn't want to post them here, but they are great to look at. Several photos show the grade being prepared in 1968 in Central City and track being laid. There are wonderful shots of engine 44 in operation as well.
The site also includes a 1988 photo of a DSP&P bridge abutment north of Nathrop.
Enjoy!
Photo of No. 44 at the Georgetown Loop RR. No. 44, originally from the International Railways of Central America, formerly ran on the Central City Narrow Gauge. Photo from steamlocomotive.com
Saturday, July 29, 2017
C&S Narrow Gauge Mileage is growing!
In the first half of the twentieth century, the years went
up, but the mileage of the C&S kept going down. Minus the Climax to Leadville line, the last
narrow gauge C&S-owned rail to be pulled would be from Chatfield to Denver
completed by December 1942, leaving the route standard gauged and finally the
narrow gauge rails at Union Terminal and the yards at Denver, finished by the
15th of April in 1943.
The big finale, of course, was when the narrow gauge rails
were uprooted from the now standard gauged Climax to Leadville route after the
final narrow gauge run on August 25th, 1943.
Technically speaking, C&S rails still held on from Gunnison to the
Baldwin Mines, albeit under the "new" ownership of the D&RGW, but
were eventually gone by the 1950s.
It struck me, however, that there is more C&S narrow
gauge trackage today than over fifty years ago.
The mileage of this lost railroad has actually increased since the mid
twentieth century as tourist routes have sprung up and historical displays and
re-creations have dotted the Colorado landscape.
I don't have exact amounts in terms of mileage, but I thought it would be
curious to recount the number of places that now (or still) sport C&S
narrow gauge track.
Original track still in place
Length of Alpine Tunnel
Reconstructed track on original roadbed
Silver Plume to Devil's Gate Viaduct
Wye on Kenosha Pass
Rocky Point on Boreas Pass
Snowplow park, Breckenridge
Como
Sherrod Curve
Display Parks
Tracks are on or in the vicinity of former C&S roadbed
Boreas Pass
Silver Plume (The caboose is now indoors under restoration, so I'm not sure the status of the track at present)
Central City
Idaho Springs
Reconstructed track that was later removed
Central City towards Black Hawk-twice rebuilt and removed
First time
Second time
Georgetown depot
(I don't recall what is still here. At one point Central American Railways #44 was displayed on track outside the old Georgetown depot. I know #44 is gone, but I am not sure if track remains)
And the great news is: the mileage keeps growing! Especially in Como this year!
Reference:
Poor, Mac. DSP&P pp. 412-3
-->
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Georgetown Loop Then and Now
I'm always impressed with the photographic and editing work of Then and Now Images of Colorado and the West. Recently, I found one video/photo that had one set of then and now photos of the Georgetown Loop high bridge from inside the loop. It appears at 1:48 remaining.
There are a number of non-C&S railroad related then and now photos as well, including Canon City depot, Colorado Springs D&RG depot, Rollins Pass, a trestle across Arkansas River and Texas Creek, and Denver Union Station. Also of interest to some C&S fans are some shots of the Silver Plume hotel.
There are a number of non-C&S railroad related then and now photos as well, including Canon City depot, Colorado Springs D&RG depot, Rollins Pass, a trestle across Arkansas River and Texas Creek, and Denver Union Station. Also of interest to some C&S fans are some shots of the Silver Plume hotel.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
C&S 60 gets a bath and coach 70 gets some wax
The Colorado and Southern Railway Society, in addition to its work on caboose 1006, also continues to work with engine 60 and coach 70 in Idaho Springs.
In May, coach 70's floor was waxed and a great deal of cleaning and polishing went on.
Unfortunately, vandalism continues to be a challenge as a window of the coach was broken recently as well.
In June, engine 60 and her tender got a pressure wash.
In May, coach 70's floor was waxed and a great deal of cleaning and polishing went on.
In June, engine 60 and her tender got a pressure wash.
The society plans to install newly replicated cab doors soon. 
They also hope to assess the consolidation and her coach for the potential of "being returned to serviceable condition."
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