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 miscellaneous South Park Line/C&S-related news from the 1962 editions.
1962
March
(Argentine Central engineer)
Members of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club were saddened to hear of the death, last month, of John Allen, 82, former conductor and engineer of the Argentine Central Railroad, the Shay-powered narrow-gauge line which operated out of Silver Plume. John Allen was always very obliging in giving interviews to members interested in this line, and we feel it was, indeed, a privilege to have been able to hear from him, first-hand, the story of this railroad. Too little do we realize how fortunate we are still to be able to listen to firemen and engineers who operated the engines during the "Golden Age of Steam".
May
(C&S Denver roundhouse)
In 1899 the Colorado & Southern Railway took possession of the Union Pacific, Denver & Gulf Railway and the Denver, Leadville & Gunnison Railway. As the C&S now had 148 locomotives, it is hard to believe they still had no shops of their own. To quote from the Annual Report to the Stockholders of the Colorado & Southern Railway Co, for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1900:
"The Company has had no general shops of its own, but thought it wise to continue the arrangement previously made by the Receiver for use of the Denver shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. Under the terms of the lease either company could cancel the same by giving nine month's notice. On December 26th, 1899, the Union Pacific Company having arranged a lease to The Pullman Company of the plant referred to, served notice upon this Company to vacate not later than January 1st, 1901. The erection of complete new general shops by this Company was thus made imperative, and construction was commenced in the spring of 1900. It is expected that the new plant will be ready for occupation by November 15th, 1900, and as it will be admirably located upon ground previously owned by the Company adjacent to the Denver freight yards, and not far from the freight station. Union Depot, and transfers to connecting lines, considerable economies in repairs and other operations are confidently expected. The amount appropriated by the Board of Directors for this work is $350,000.00, and while the necessity for this construction came at an inopportune time, so far as prices of material and machinery were concerned, yet it is a matter for congratulation that The Pullman Company is to inaugurate extensive work in Denver, and the return on this Company's new investment should prove very satisfactory on account of the saving in rental, as well as on account of the economy of modern machinery and favorably located buildings and tracks."
The construction mentioned above included provisions for a 40-stall roundhouse. And it is this very roundhouse which today is all but disappearing before our very eyes. Crews have been chopping away at it bit by bit these past few years until today there are only 5 stalls remaining. Not a very impressive monument to what was once a very extensive steam empire.
(Steam winds down in Leadville)
Colorado & Southern RR 2-8-0 #641 was the star of a recent television show which portrayed the trans-shipment of goods from Leadville to the Climax Molybdenum Mine.
C&S Road Foreman of Equipment (and staunch Club member) Mickey Hansen piloted the engine for the event. Plenty of work in the future for #641 was assured by the Climax Mines' recent announcement of a $20 Million development program. Unfortunately, how long the daily run of #641 will continue depends more on #641 herself--the old girl is just getting plumb wore-out. Fact is, the citizens of Leadville are already discussing where to set her this summer after she is retired-whether in a park or by the court house - sort of like putting up a tombstone before the patient is dead.
The Leadville-Climax run in the wintertime is anything but a "milk-run". The total snowfall of over 300" there this winter has left so much ice that derailments are not an infrequent occurrence. Just a few weeks ago #641 herself was on the ground for a couple of days. Routine switching by itself is a constant challenge at such altitude, due to the ice, snow, and frequent blizzards. Fighting derailments, in addition, really makes it tough.
(DSP&P Book-pricey!)
In view of recent publicity reporting sales of first edition ’’Denver, South Park and Pacific”, published by the Club in 1949, we believe it should be known that Denver area dealers in rare books are anxious to acquire copies. Anyone with a copy available can negotiate on standing offers in the neighborhood of $100 and up per copy, depending, of course, on condition - and bona fide inquiries are invited.
October
(The Last Run of C&S 641)
More unpleasant news – C&S 2-8-0 #641, which used to handle the Leadville-Climax run, has now been replaced by a diesel. Engine #828, an EMD 1750-HP SD-9, supplanted the 641, which made her last run September 12, 1962. Club member S. L. Logue of Leadville tells us that arrangements have been made to place the 641 on permanent exhibition on the east side of the C&S depot at Leadville, between 7th and 8th Streets, with dedication ceremonies tentatively set for October 8th.
Thus, Colorado soon will be without an operating standard-gauge steam engine, and we can be thankful we still have both the Rio Grande's narrow gauge and Bob Richardson's Golden City and San Juan #346 working under steam.
November
(Saving the Westall Monument)
Sixty-four years ago, on August 28, 1898, narrow gauge Denver, Leadville & Gunnison engine 195, with Billy Westall at the throttle, rounded a bend in South Platte Canyon just west of Dome Rock, plowed into a wash-in and overturned, fatally injuring Engineer Westall. For his heroism in staying with his train, the American Order of United Workmen erected a monument on the site of the accident on Labor Day, September 4, 1899.
The story behind this little known and sadly neglected historical marker has long been a mystery, even to people who live in the canyon, but this condition has now been remedied. On Saturday, October 20, 1962, five past officers of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club devoted a day to the Westall Monument, accomplishing the following: A bronze tablet, prepared by and at the expense of one member of the group, was permanently attached to the base of the memorial. This plaque fully explains the events that occurred here and states that the tablet was placed by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club. All joints in the rock memorial were carefully caulked; its foundation rock was restored where missing; a rock retaining wall was built along three sides and the area between this wall and the monument base filled with compacted earth and sodded; the entire area was cleaned up, weeds cut, papers burned and cans and other debris buried.
We hope that this good beginning will provoke a campaign to locate and mark historical railroad sites in our Rocky Mountains.
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