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.