Bert Renck, South Park fireman, shares his adventures on the narrow gauge

Bert Renck, born in Missouri, started railroad work on the Santa Fe in 1906.  In 1909 he went to Como, Colorado to work for the Colorado & Southern narrow gauge on "The South Park Line."  He fired on many parts of the line including the Fish Special between Denver and Grant, the Boreas Pass route from Como to Leadville, and the Gunnision Division which included running over Altman Pass through the Alpine Tunnel.  Famously, he was involved in a wreck outside of the east portal of the Alpine Tunnel (That portion will be covered in my forthcoming part 2 video).  

Later in life he would join with the likes of George Champion (another C&S employee who worked on the Alpine Tunnel route), Mac Poor, Dow Helmers, and Francis Trudgeon to meet up at the west portal for Alpine Tunnel Days and help with stabilization and reminiscing.  

I came upon his story when I bought a magazine on Ebay entitled Old West, Winter 1976 edition.  The article was titled "The South Park Narrow Gauge: a treacherous stretch of rails that you could slide on a while before you jumped the track and hurtled down the mountain" by Bert Renck submitted by Hank Givens.  

This is an audio of that article that I narrated.  I put images and video to match up with his story, though, of course, the time frame of the photos doesn't match up in many cases.  

I hope you enjoy another edition of C&S Tales!

Kurt

1975 C&S News (1) - Charles Ryland, Stolen engine bells, Loop bridge studies, 1903 Loop footage

 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 1975 editions.  

1975

Part 1

January

(Theft! Stolen railroad passes)

ON AUGUST 23 a collection of railroad passes was stolen from the home of member Charles Ryland. Some have appeared in antique shops and through the help of some members and friends a number  have been recovered.  Among those not yet located are an 1879 Colorado Central #679, a Denver Pacific 1870 issued to Casement, several Colorado Midland Indian passes, a Denver, Lakewood & Golden 1899 and many others. Any information about these or others will be appreciated.  A list is available from Charles Ryland at 1914 - 19TH St., GOLDEN, COLORADO 80401. 

(Ed. Charles Ryland, a WWII vet and a former president of the RMRC, was the man who persuaded M.C. Poor to let the Club publish his DSP&P book when the original publisher demanded Poor cut the book in half.  Poor said in 1965, "The silver lining to my dark cloud was none other than Charlie Ryland)

(Theft again! Stolen engine bell)

Unloading Potosi & Rio Verde No. 4 in the early '70s 

CAN YOU HELP?? - On or about December 6th, the bell on Mexican Engine No. 4 at the Colorado Railroad Museum was appropriated by persons unknown. Due to the substantial weight of the bell and the fact that it was welded on, it can be assumed more than one person was involved in this theft. The Colorado Railroad Museum would greatly appreciate any information in regards to recent attempts to sell or otherwise dispose of an engine bell.  The museum is looking for any clues that will help locating the historic piece.  

(Ed. This is the engine, Potosi & Rio Verde No. 4, that was "thrown in the pot" when Bob Richardson of the Colorado Railroad Museum agreed to do the work to get an original Thunder Lake engine from Mexico to a Wisconsin museum.  For all the work, Richardson got DSP&P No. 191 from Wisconsin for CRRM, along with a narrow gauge Mexican engine.  This engine was later sold to the Huckleberry Railroad in Michigan.  See the April edition below for the outcome of the theft)

February

(early filming on the original Georgetown Loop)

"Rivers of Silver, Ribbons of Steel" 

As we were about to print this newsletter, we received confirmation that Mr. William L. Loeffler of Long Island, New York will be here for the February meeting and will present a 25 minute, 16mm sound production covering a 100 year retrospective look at the narrow gauge empire in the Rockies. From color sound track of the Durango-Silverton run back through black and white newsreel footage and animated stills including early filming of the Georgetown Loop.  Mr. Loeffler has prepared a TV production complete with narration.  This should provide a fine climax to the Otto Perry showing. 

March

(Early footage of Kenosha Pass and the Loop presented)

The February program was a double barrel "shot in the arm" for narrow gauge enthusiasts and others who "packed the house" for the double feature presentation. Leading off the program portion of the meeting were scenes from the famous Otto Perry movies including the San Juan at various locations along its rout.  Rocky Mountain Railroad Club excursions including a Rio Grande narrow gauge trip over a dozen cars including the Silver Vista, the South Park at Kenosha Pass, the Pikes Peak  Cog Railway prior to the elimination of steam power and many more views to numerous to mention. 

Following the Otto Perry selection we were privileged to view a showing by Mr. William L. Loeffler of "Rivers of Silver, Ribbons of Steel", a 25 minute 16mm color and sound motion picture production concentrating on the history of the narrow gauge railroads in the west.  The film is designed for showing to viewers in a television audience who are not familiar with mountain railroading.  It is an enjoyable retrospective look at the reason for the narrow gauge form of railroading and the importance it played in the development of the western U.S. including scenes with rare sequences of a Uintah train working up Baxter Pass, a rotary snowplow operation on Cumbres Pass, and a tourist train running over the Georgetown Loop filmed by the Biograph Studio in 1903.  (Ed. You can see this footage here)

Recent films taken of the Silverton train portrayed how it is still possible to ride a train similar to those of years ago that provided the only decent form of transportation into the mountains.  We are indebted to Mr. Loeffler, who produced the film, for arranging his personal schedule so that he could show the film at the meeting.  Mr. Loeffler teaches motion picture production and is involved with educational TV.  He is presently with the Department of Communication Arts of the New York Institute of Technology, Long Island, New York and stopped in Denver for the meeting while on his way to the west coast.  When the use of the Georgetown Loop, Uintah and Cumbres Pass footage for the production of the film was completed, Mr. Loeffler donated it to the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club film library. The sequences are of high quality and were meticulously copied from the original 35mm nitrate film in the Library of Congress.  It was certainly an enjoyable evening for all and we thank Mr. Loeffler for his time and effort in brining “Rivers of Silver, Ribbons of Steel” to Denver for our viewing pleasure.

(Studies underway to reconstruct the Loop High Bridge)

A LITTLE CLOSER EVERY DAY - Preliminary engineering studies are underway for the rebuilding of

The High Bridge

the high bridge on the Georgetown Loop. The bridge will be designed to resemble as closely as possible the original structure. Construction would begin as soon as the required funding can be obtained. 

(Ed. Funding to rebuild the bridge would not become a reality for roughly seven more years-1982-when the Boettcher Foundation gave one million dollars to the project)

April

(DSP&P book reprint in progress)

PROGRESS REPORT ON REPUBLICATION OF DENVER SOUTH PARK & PACIFIC - Ed Haley reports that the work is going "full steam ahead" with the Denver South. Park & Pacific. All 209 photographs included in the original book have been acquired with the exception of five. Of these, three are being replaced by almost exact duplicates, one is being eliminated and will be replaced by a photo more compatible with the text, and one we are still trying to acquire from Life Magazine. We have added 28 more excellent photos to the 209 in the original book and will possibly add four more. 

Four plates required for reproducing one of the paintings in color have been made and proofs are on hand. A second color reproduction is at the engravers now. Negatives for reproduction of photographs in the first third of the book have all been made and proofs received. Negatives for the photos in the second third of the book have been shot and proofs are being made. Photos for the final third of the book are in order and ready to be taken to World Press. World Press has been doing its own camera work and proofs received indicate a remarkable improvement over reproductions in the original book. As of this date there has been no actual printing. The Club has received orders for 1,508 books. Watch for our advertisements in all of the railfan and modelers' magazines. 

(Stolen engine bell found!)

GOOD NEWS - The bell stolen off the Mexican Engine in early December at the Colorado Railroad Museum has been recovered.

June

(First annual rail fan weekend at the Georgetown Loop)

Also in June we are pleased to announce that the State Historical Society and the Georgetown Loop Railroad Company are having their first annual rail fan weekend at Silver Plume, Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, starting at 10:00 A.M. each day. $5.00 per person each day. Steam will be operated. 

(Colorado Rail Annual)

** BOOK REVIEW **

THE SOUTH PARK LINE, A Concise History, by Chappell, Richardson, and Hauck. (Colorado 

Rail Annual No. 12.) 280 pages, illustrated, maps. 

This well-produced volume covers the famous South Park line briefly, but adequately. Gordon S. Chappell

has written the history of the line during its construction period and early years of operation. The period of Union Pacific control and subsequent receivership was prepared by Cornelius W. Hauck, while Robert W. Richardson has covered the Colorado and Southern operations, and the final abandonment. A pictorial section on Alpine Pass includes the famous snowplow trails, and a well-deserved tribute to railroad photographer, Richard B. Jackson, provides additional excellent illustrations. A locomotive roster and some miscellaneous information completes the book, which is highly recommended to anyone interested

in this famous Colorado railroad. The book is available from the Colorado Railroad Museum, Box 10, Golden, Colorado 80401, at $14.75 per copy, postpaid. Colorado residents, please send $15.34, to include sales tax. 

Palisade Repair - Scaling Completed

 On July 7, 2022, Justin Kerns wrote, "Just a quick update that the rock scaling work is now complete. There will be no more road or trail closures this year. There was quite a bit of scaling to do including some new rockfall on the grade itself that happened this past winter. The engineering firm is working on the design now and it will be put out to masons for bid later this year with deconstruction work commencing in 2023 and rebuild finishing in 2024."

Palisade damage (2018 photo)

1974 C&S News (2) - The Loop electrified? Plans to build to Blackhawk, Platte river bridge moved, C&S 20 on TV

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 more miscellaneous South Park Line/C&S-related news from the 1974 editions.  

1974

Part 2

January

(Rumor: The Georgetown Loop will be electrified!)

Norwegian electric narrow gauge

JUST OVER A FEW MOUNTAINS to the southwest on that same day activity was beginning to pick up on the Georgetown Loop restoration project. Navy Reserve Seebees were fulfilling their once a month duty obligation preparing the site for this summer’s work. Another weekend visit by them in May will be followed by a six week stay beginning in June. Much work still remains to be done, including finishing touches on the two bridges, tracklaying, and setting the station at Silver Flume on a foundation. It is hoped to have some revenue operations underway by late summer. There is one rumor about the loop that needs to be squelched, a rumor reportedly to be circulating particularly among its fans. It is absolutely untrue that a test section of a quarter mile of electric overhead is being installed from Silver Plume down toward the first big curve to study the feasibility of electrifying the historic line. 

June

(Finally, Poor's DSP&P gets a reprint!)

RAILROAD CLUB TO REPRINT "SOUTH PARK" BOOK - At the last meeting of the officers and

directors of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, it was decided to reprint M. C. Poor's famous history, "Denver, South Park & Pacific." This will provide the Club's contribution to the Colorado Centennial in 1976, and will also be a memorial to the late M. C. Poor, a long-time Club member. All the original text will be included, and it is expected that practically all the original pictures will be used, although new plates are to be made of the photographs, and if a few of the originals cannot be located, comparable illustrations will be provided. 

While it is planned to reprint the book in 1976, no other Rocky Mountain Railroad Club books are to be reprinted, according to present plans. At present, a price has not been established, and we request that no money be sent to the club for this book until a descriptive brochure is received, at which time a prepublication special price will be announced. The reprint edition will not be numbered, and it is uncertain at this time as to the quantity that will be published. 

(Ed. Just five years previously, the Club explained why they would not do a reprint of the book.  Mac Poor himself also agreed.  After Poor's passing in 1973, it seems openness to the idea emerged)

(Shay 14 in action at Central City)

THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG - The Shay locomotive that arrived In Central City at the end of April is already hard at work pulling trains on the Colorado Central. 

(Ed. The shay arrived in April of 1974)

July

(8mm movies of C&Sng)

PROGRAM NOTES: The club is privileged to present, through the courtesy of James R. Jackson and Al Chione, a program for the July meeting which will consist of some very old and rare 8mm movies of Colorado railroading.

These excellent movies were taken between 1937 and 1941 by Jim Jackson’s father, Richard B. Jackson, a Rocky Mountain Railroad Club member until his death in 1971, and one of the noted railroad photographers who recorded Colorado engines and trains before World War II. Included are Denver & Rio Grande Western operations on the Silverton Branch, the Cumbres Pass, Marshall Pass, and Black Canyon lines and the Santa Fe Branch. There are also some views of Rio Grande Southern trains operating over that spectacular line and some extremely rare Colorado & Southern narrow gauge scenes at Leadville, on Boreas Pass, and in Clear Creek Canyon.  If you liked Otto Perry’s fascinating films last month, which speak for themselves, or if you missed them, here is another opportunity to see some fine Colorado railroad photography of years gone by. 

(New diesel and cars arrive at the Georgetown Loop)

1984 photo of No. 15 

RESTORATION WORK ON THE GEORGETOWN LOOP is now in full swing since the arrival of the Seebees in mid-June. Before their departure in early August it is hoped that track laying up into Silver Plume will be completed and that the depot there will be on a foundation. More equipment for the operation has been received. The last weekend in June saw the arrival of ex-Oahu Railway No. 15 diesel switcher from California. Formerly of the Camino, Cable & Northern, the engine is a sister to the diesel unit used on the CATS line and will be used in the construction phase of the loop. Also just received is an ex-Camino, Cable & Northern ex-Lake Tahoe and Railway & Transportation Company narrow gauge coach and an excursion car from the Colorado Central. 

(Plans to lay track toward Blackhawk; TV show filmed on the Colorado Central)

C&S No. 20 in 1990

CENTRAL CITY RAIL ACTIVITIES - The Shay locomotive at Central City has been in charge of passenger operations since its arrival in April. With the acquisition of that engine, it is hoped tracklaying can continue down toward Blackhawk. The track presently stops at the sight of a trestle whose cost of replacement is too prohibitive for the line. Track can now be layed (sic) around the end of the gulch in a curve that the Shay, unlike the other conventional locos on the CC, will have no trouble negotiating. 

Central City and the Colorado Central were recently involved in the filming of a TV show to be seen later this summer. Production crews, along with stars Charlie Rich, Ann Murray and the "Chicago” Rock Group spent June 26th filming scenes around town and on the train. The Shay and C&S combine No. 20 were the railroad stars. The engine was operated by George Claymore, a retired veteran of 51 years service with the Rock Island and currently an engineer on the CC. Tentative broadcast of the one hour special is August 16th on ABC. 

(Ed. C&S combine No. 20 was placed on display in 1941 along with C&S engine 71 and C&S gondola 4319)

August

(DSP&P reprint update)

“SOUTH PARK" BOOK WORK PROGRESSING - Material to be used in the brochure that will announce the republishing of the original "Denver, South Park & Pacific" by Mac Poor was turned over to the printer on August 1st. World Press will begin work on that immediately. 

(Ballast train on the Georgetown Loop)

THE BALLAST TRAIN has completed work on the Georgetown Loop. Tamping and aligning the track is currently being done, The Seebees departed the last week in July.

December

(More DSP&P reprint updates)

This year the Club has embarked on republishing the DENVER, SOUTH PARK AND PACIFIC, a memorial edition to Mr, Mac Poor. This will keep the Club busy in the coming year. The response of reprinting it has been great, with very little on the negative side. This reprinting will enable a lot of younger railfans and other people who never had an opportunity to own the original to obtain one and read of the early days of railroading in Colorado.

ORDERS FOR THE DENVER, SOUTH PARK AND PACIFIC reprint have been arriving at a steady rate. We thank you for this support.  It is most gratifying and will assist measurably in meeting the initial expenses involved. 

A point we would like to clarify, which was not mentioned in the brochure mailed with last month’s newsletter, but was mentioned briefly in the June 1974 Rail Report, is that the reprint will not be numbered. 

Volunteer workers have put in over five hundred hours mailing 4,250 brochures announcing the republication of DENVER, SOUTH PARK & PACIFIC.  These are in addition to the brochures already mailed to the Club members. Our thanks to Jack and Kay Riley, John and Elsie Ingles, Pee Wee Smith, Dick Kindig, Cleta Poor (who also graciously allowed us to use her basement) and Wan and Ed Haley, Thanks also to Bill and Sylvia Gordon who mailed brochures to the people on the Club’s trip list. 

 

Palisade Repair Progress

Recently on the DSP&P forum, Justin Kerns, who has been an important part of the move to repair the Palisades, west of Alpine Tunnel, described the current work.

Below are some excerpts from his comments: 

The Palisade repair is scheduled to be completed during summer of 2024 with the heavy work happening next summer. This summer rock scaling is being done so there will be weekday closures of the road below Woodstock. Sherrod Loop will not be accessible during these closures nor will you be able to hike from there to the west portal.  Weekends will be fine, however. 

I asked him to explain "rock scaling."

They will be taking down all loose and semi-loose rocks from above the Palisades down to the old wagon road below the wall. This will be done along that whole stretch as it is prone to rockfall. It is being done to increase safety for the construction during the rebuilding of the Palisade Wall, as well as the safety of hikers/drivers along the grade. The wagon road below the grade is also being improved enough to support movement of heavy equipment to the base of the wall. This will be necessary next summer. Although the wagon road above the grade has been in use as Wiliams Pass since the railroad days, the road below was abandoned long ago and is in need of some improvement to support the repair work. The scaling work is being done on weekdays only and is expected to be completed by 7/8. 

Next summer (2023) the heavy work will commence. The wall will be taken down further in order to be rebuilt properly in its original form. There is an outside chance this will be completed next summer (2023) but most likely will spill into summer 2024. It all depends on the weather.

I know it's a long time in coming, but I am so grateful that good, long-term-minded, work is being done to repair this incredible historical site, and making the road to the west portal open once again.

For a more complete look at the plans for the repairs, including diagrams, and more, see this post from 2021.

Below is a video I took when our family visited the Palisades in 2018.  At roughly 4:50 you can see the damage to the rock wall.