How did Caboose 1006 get to Silver Plume?

I have been very curious over the years to understand how C&S caboose 1006 got to Silver Plume.  The Colorado & Southern Railway Society, who is now actively doing restoration work on the old bobber, graciously shared with me what they know.

My question:

Do you know how 1006 ended up in Silver Plume after the C&S was abandoned?  Post abandonment photos show it in the dirt or on wooden blocks.  It doesn't seem like it was left as a display item like the locos and trains in Idaho Springs and Central City.  Those were all painted up and displayed well, while 1006 seemed "dumped."

Response from The Colorado & Southern Railway Society:

We've done a lot of research on this very question. Initially we assumed that the Caboose was left in Silver Plume when the tracks were pulled up.

It turns out; we have found photos of the Scrap train, and 1006 was the caboose used to dismantle the clear creek branch.

When the Narrow gauge was abandoned the C&S management actively chose a number of locomotives and cars specifically for preservation.

While 1008, and 1009 were retained for use on the Leadville branch till it was upgraded to standard gauge in 1946, 1006 was deliberately chosen for preservation and trucked to Silver Plume.

Based on their response, I surmise that maybe 1006 was nicely displayed at one time, but the photos I've come across showing it in a dilapidated state must be later when it had been neglected.  If I'm right, it doesn't explain why the trains in Idaho Springs and Central City were occasionally maintained by the CB&Q, such as when they sent people out in the 1950s or 60s to repaint the trains in current CB&Q livery, but this did not, as far as I am aware, happen to 1006.

Could this be the remains of C&S 75 or 76?

A few months ago, I received a comment on an article on the five remaining C&S locomotives that I have been working to update each time I receive new info.  

Bob Whetham, author of several books on Peru, left the following comment:

"I am planning a trip to Colorado next year and found your blog with current information on the remaining C&S locomotives very useful.  Of particular interest is No. 74 and the fate of No's 75 and 76.  Both were sold to Peru and are recorded on the roster of the 3' gauge F.C. Huncayo a Huancavelica with a note that 'they were acquired by Morse Bros...via the Cerro de Pasco Corp.' and scrapped in 1960.  The reference to the Cerro de Pasco is strange since that railway was standard gauge apart from some localized mine and plant trackage.  Also, it did not serve Huancayo.  I believe that the remains of one of these locomotives was still at Huancayo in 1965.  It appears in one of my photos taken in May of that year and I would be glad to e-mail a copy if it would help confirm part of the story."

I, of course, was thrilled to see this photo!  Graciously, Mr. Whetham agreed to let me post it here.

He also commented that, "It is not the subject of the photo but you can see the tender and top of the boiler in the background. Hopefully that will be enough to identify whether it was one of these locomotives. For what it's worth I remember the canted cylinders which were very unusual.

"Unfortunately I didn't have enough film to record everything I saw on that trip. Sure wish I could do it over now!

"For clarification, the small engine in the foreground with the extension to the smoke stack was an 0-6-0T used as a stationary boiler. I haven't been able to identify the builder.  It seemed to be used to power a pump to transfer fuel oil from standard gauge cars to the large storage tank.

"The engine in question is the one in the background with FCHH painted on the tender. The boiler is just visible behind it and has been stripped of the cab, stack and sand dome. Unfortunately I don't have any closer views.

"I didn't know much about Colorado narrow gauge at the time (1965) and was traveling solo around Peru to record what I could of the fast disappearing railways. Much later I was able to get a copy of a draft locomotive list and have since updated it with additional information  based mostly on old photos. I incorporated the photos and locomotive data in two books I wrote on Peru a few years ago. While the majority of Peru's locomotives were purchased new, some were acquired second hand from the U.S. including the C&S and Sumpter Valley. Unraveling the story has taken quite a bit of sleuthing but there still are gaps!"

I would love to employ the sights of anybody else to see if you can recognize any distinctive features that my identify it as either No. 75 or 76.

C&S 71 in Burlington garb

I was told years ago that, unlike C&S 60, number 71 never wore the Burlington Route paint scheme while on display.  I've since found out that it did indeed wear it for a few years.  Another photo now for sale on ebay shows this again.

You can't see the herald on the tender here, but you can see the small "C&S" under the number.  This photo also shows that a chain link fence was erected to protect the small display train from vandalism.

Palisde Damage viewed via Drone

I was looking for an update on the damage done to the Palisades during the previous winter and stumbled upon the following video.  It shows someone with a drone camera that gets amazing overhead shots of the western slope leading up to Alpine Tunnel and then has stunning drone shots of the damage to the Palisades.




The creator of the video "Silver Plume General Store" writes: "Short video of the sights and scenery going up the tunnel road, and the damage resulting from a winter slide. The road is currently barricaded to all motorized traffic at Sherrod Loop. We hope the Forest Service will push to restore this awesome piece of history."

Alpine Tunnel 1952

Here is another video with old footage from the Alpine Tunnel.  This time it is from 1952.  The description (below) says it was shot at the west portal, but the video, I am pretty sure, begins at the east portal.   Even the shots of the father and son walking could be near Atlantic, though I suppose they could be from the west side near the palisades.  It's hard to tell.  You can still see lots of ties in place.




Here is the description by the person who posted the video on Youtube:

"This is a short clip from the Summer of 1952 of the West side of the Alpine Tunnel (Colorado). Now it is the Historic Alpine tunnel. In 1952 it was just the Alpine tunnel. Note that many ties are still in place even though the rails are long gone. The first frame in the clip shows the top of the tunnel opening. This movie was taken 42 years after the last train went through the tunnel. The mountain was already in the process of reclaiming itself as shown by the damage caused by falling rock. Today, both ends of the tunnel are blocked by rock slides. Mother nature always has her way in the end. 

Freeze the first two frames in the movie to see the top of the tunnel opening West end in 1952, 

There is a video of the inside of the tunnel from 1992 that is very interesting that shows the the tunnel explorers going in at this point I don't think anyone has been in there since 1992 as it is now sealed from both ends. Restoration would be a huge undertaking however so far, no one has come forward to fund such a project."

Alpine Tunnel 1965

I recently found some old video footage of the Alpine Tunnel.  The first is from 1965.  You can see Tunnel Gulch water tank in a precarious leaning state.  You will also see the rails still in place beneath the snowsheds at the west portal.



Here is the description by the person who uploaded the video:

"Art Burrill, Dave Burrill and Lloyd Lemons explore the west portal of the Alpine Tunnel, summer of 1965. Gunnison County, Colorado."

Tracks on Kenosha 2013

Found this random bit of video of the relaid track on Kenosha Pass.