For a long time I read the Iron Horse News sent out by the Colorado Railroad Museum. It was chock full of interesting goings-on related to railroads in Colorado, particularly the narrow gauge lines. A few years back I purchased Colorado Rail Annual No. 21: Robert W. Richardson's Narrow Gauge News. The book contains all of the newsletters of the original publications (then called Narrow Gauge News) from 1949-1958 as Richardson races to chronicle, preserve, and save the fast-dying narrow gauges lines.I knew it would be dominated by D&RGW and Rio Grande Southern info, and it is, as these lines were in their death throes then (If you love those lines, you will love this book). But for the C&S fan, I didn't see much (understandably, since the C&S narrow gauge was already gone), so I never really did much other than scan a few pages here and there.
Finally, I started combing the book for DSP&P/C&S details more thoroughly and began underlining them. While they are few, there are some terrific gems among them, especially as we see some of the early signs of C&S and South Park preservation efforts.
I decided to collect those tidbits and put up a few posts with them, starting with the Narrow Gauge News from years 1949-1950. I'll cover more years in upcoming posts.
*Photos are not from the book.
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| Ex-C&S 74 on Ophir 1951 |
1949
June
Ex-C&S 74 2-8-0 with lengthened firebox and other changes went into use [on the Rio Grande Southern] in May1950
January
DENVER, SOUTH PARK &PACIFIC
This handsome book of above title appeared in mid-December, all that it was advertised and much more. Published by the Rocky Mountain R.R. Club with M.C. “Mac” Poor as author it has set a new high in railroad histories. Many prize photos, neat maps and interesting background material is included. The famous line will live forever in the book.March
Actually this hearing also determines the fate of the Baldwin Branch out of Gunnison [operated by the D&RGW], as well as hurting in small ways all the rest of the narrow gauge. If the Valley line is abandoned, the coal traffic from Castleton would go to trucks for all handling, and as this 15 ½ mile branch, formerly the farthest extension of the Denver South Park & Pacific has no other traffic, it would automatically be killed. It uses the smallest class n.g. engines, for which there is no other use. Tho [sic] a recent meeting at Gunnison of [sic] Chambers of Commerce had as one of the items of discussion the keeping of railroad to places such as Gunnison, that region took no part in the Saguache hearing.***THE HIGHWAY from Golden, Colo. to Idaho Springs is not expected to be completed for another couple years.
***RAILFANS WHO LIKE to drive along some n.g. routes are in for better roads in n.g. territory. Among those slated for oiling this year are Placerville-Telluraide, Route 17 along the Valley route and Route 285 south of Antonito along the old Chili route. The Colorado Mountain Club however did things a littler differently on Feb. 12 when headed by Bob LeMassena they snow shoed over part of the old Argentine Central right-of-way near Silver Plume.
June
Engines 42 and [Ex-C&S] 74 not used this year [on the Rio Grande Southern].August
***Correction: RGS engine 74 (ex-C&S did make some runs this year, including one of the two runs to Rico. It is to be repaired before the stock rush starts in Sept.September
AUTHOR AND ARTIST VISIT ALPINE TUNNEL
M.C. “Mac” Poor, author of “Denver, South Park & Pacific” and Phil Ronfor, whose magnificent paintings adorn jacket and interior of the same book, recently made a pilgrimage to that mecca of South Park Fans … Alpine Tunnel. They report the opening into the west end of the tunnel is growing smaller and it seems likely it will soon be sealed entirely. Ronfor, who had never before visited the area was very enthusiastic and we understand he plans a painting of an old-time train in Sherrod Curve, as well as a view from a new angle of the famous Palisades. The building at the station are reported to be much as usual, the boarding house leaning at the same perilous and incredible angle as noted in previous years, but still holding its own 40 years after the abandonment. They were accompanied by Ed Haley (who took interior shots used in the book), Chas. Ryland, Dick Kindig and Ronfor’s daughter.
Earlier this summer, several Colorado enthusiasts for preserving old railroadiana [sic] spent weeks in dragging and carrying away the harp-type switch stand which had somehow escaped the junkman.
A page of rotogravure pictures titled “Historic Sidetrack” showing scenes of the place today, were featured in the Aug. 13 Denver Post.
