I've discovered some fairly recent video gems produced by the Colorado Railroad Museum. The one below covers the full history of Denver, Leadville & Gunnison 191 (Formerly DSP&P 51 and later DSP&P 191, and still later C&S 31).
I picked up a few pieces of newer information that I hadn't previously known. I used this info to update my post on the history of the five remaining C&S locos. You can see the newest update to that document here. Below the video is the updated segment with some new info from the video as well as some other details from elsewhere.
Built in 1880, C&S 31 began its career as number 51 on the South Park Line. It later joined the Denver, Leadville, & Gunnison as 191 and finally the C&S as number 31 (though it was never renumbered in actuality). It served for 22 years on those lines until it was sold for $2000 in April 1899 (or 1902-sources vary), a year after the creation of the C&S, to the Edward Hines Lumber Company in Wisconsin and run as Washburn & Northwestern #7. In 1905 it was sold to the Robbins Lumber Co. in Rhinelander, which was bought in 1919 by the Thunder Lake Lumber Co. As a side note, one source said that the cautious owner of the line thought it was too heavy to be used unless the ground was frozen. Midyette states that "By 1932, No. 191 was completely worn out and seldom used." It was retired that year and placed on display at Wisconsin's Rhinelander Logging Museum, next to the paper mill in town, moving there under its own power for the last time. It was later moved to Rhinelander's Pioneer Park. The engine remained on display for a little over four decades.
The locomotive's time at Rhinelander was not kind. The museum at the time pursued a philosophy that the more access the public has to history, the more likely they are to feel connected to it. Consequently, the engine was fully accessible and climbable. As a result, many parts went missing and the loco's condition diminished.
At the beginning of the 1970's, Cornelius Hauck, co-founder with Bob Richardson of the Colorado Railroad Museum, learned of the existence of 191 and contacted the Rhinelander museum. The logging museum was open to 191 moving to Colorado if a fitting replacement locomotive could be found for them. Hauck discovered a Mexican railroad that owned a former Thunder Lake Lumber Co. engine was closing down. This engine wasn't a trade or later purchase for the Wisconsin line, like 191, but was actually built new in 1925 specifically for the Wisconsin logger. Hauck convinced the Rhinelander Museum to accept his offer that if he could get this engine to them, they would give him No. 31/191.
The locomotive's time at Rhinelander was not kind. The museum at the time pursued a philosophy that the more access the public has to history, the more likely they are to feel connected to it. Consequently, the engine was fully accessible and climbable. As a result, many parts went missing and the loco's condition diminished.
At the beginning of the 1970's, Cornelius Hauck, co-founder with Bob Richardson of the Colorado Railroad Museum, learned of the existence of 191 and contacted the Rhinelander museum. The logging museum was open to 191 moving to Colorado if a fitting replacement locomotive could be found for them. Hauck discovered a Mexican railroad that owned a former Thunder Lake Lumber Co. engine was closing down. This engine wasn't a trade or later purchase for the Wisconsin line, like 191, but was actually built new in 1925 specifically for the Wisconsin logger. Hauck convinced the Rhinelander Museum to accept his offer that if he could get this engine to them, they would give him No. 31/191.
Finally, in February 1973, Bob Richardson made the trek to Mexico to orchestrate the move of the Thunder Lake engine to Wisconsin and then oversaw the move of 191 from the Rhinelander museum onto a railcar for its move back home to Colorado.
Now back in her home state she was restored to her appearance as Denver, Leadville & Gunnison 191, including cutting back her smokebox to its length while on the South Park. One very unique aspect of 51/191/31 is that, as stated in The Bogies and the Loop, she "received little in the way of updates and has remained a remarkably original example of an 1880's narrow gauge freight locomotive." In addition to its authenticity, it is believed to be the oldest surviving locomotive in the state at over 130 years old. One more curiosity to South Park fans is that the link and pin coupler installed on the pilot of 191 by the Colorado Railroad Museum was found along the grade to Alpine Tunnel, likely there as a result of some distant wreck. In 2009 the engine received an entire cosmetic make-over at CRRM and has been proudly displayed on numerous publicity materials related to the museum. For at least a few of us, yes, age matters.
Now back in her home state she was restored to her appearance as Denver, Leadville & Gunnison 191, including cutting back her smokebox to its length while on the South Park. One very unique aspect of 51/191/31 is that, as stated in The Bogies and the Loop, she "received little in the way of updates and has remained a remarkably original example of an 1880's narrow gauge freight locomotive." In addition to its authenticity, it is believed to be the oldest surviving locomotive in the state at over 130 years old. One more curiosity to South Park fans is that the link and pin coupler installed on the pilot of 191 by the Colorado Railroad Museum was found along the grade to Alpine Tunnel, likely there as a result of some distant wreck. In 2009 the engine received an entire cosmetic make-over at CRRM and has been proudly displayed on numerous publicity materials related to the museum. For at least a few of us, yes, age matters.
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