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 1976 editions.
1976
January
Progress Report on the Denver South Park & Pacific Memorial Edition
Ed Haley reports that printing is now finished on the first 324 pages of the book that is being reprinted by the Club. All photographic plates have been made, and a third color plate is currently in process. Pages up to 250 have been folded and collated. The binding operation, of course, cannot begin until printing, collating and folding of the pages is complete. To date, over 2,500 copies have been sold. If progress continues at its current pace, the book should be out in late 1976.
February
(Otto Perry and Ed Haley bounce over ties on Boreas Pass)
The Otto Perry movies shown at the January meeting were, as usual, absolutely fascinating. In addition to the various scenes in the Rocky Mountain region, were beautiful action views of mainline steam farther east with Pennsylvania, New York Central and other eastern and midwestern lines being included.
Complementing the railroad shots taken in Colorado, were a few of Otto's scenery shots, Denver rail
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| Boreas Pass is quite different from Otto Perry's days! |
transit sequences, some beautiful action closeups of an obscure hog wallow on some ranch that seemed to have caught Otto's eye, and some scenes of driving over Boreas Pass back in the days when the ties were still in place. Several amusing shots, although probably thought of as serious business at the time by those involved, showed Otto's car bouncing slowly along over the ties and Ed Haley out front with a hatchet, chopping down small trees and otherwise modifying the local vegetation to allow passage. Nowadays, some people probably drive up that same road, now graded, in their four-wheel-drive vehicles and pat themselves on the back when they reach the top. If they only knew what they are missing ....
April
(Standard Gauge caboose placed on display in Buena Vista)
STILL ALIVE AND KICKING - an old wooden caboose has been obtained from the BN in Denver and moved by truck to Buena Vista, Colorado and parked in the downtown area. The car was placed on a length of track and is being cleaned up (the interior was sandblasted throughout) and used as a small store.
(Ed.-This is not the caboose that is now on display outside the restored South Park Buena Vista depot. The present one was donated in 2005)
The video below shares the story of how the depot was saved and moved in 2002. It also includes a walk-through of the present caboose)
May
(Georgetown Loop double-header)
On September 11, special double-headed steam trips for the Club will be run on the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
(Ed-Here's a good mystery I'm hoping someone might solve: The Loop only had No. 44 on site at this time. IRCA No. 40 wouldn't come to the Loop until 1977. Does anyone know if this double-header actually occurred and with what engines? My guess is that there was a tentative plan to bring No. 40 earlier, but it didn't happen-that's just my guess. If anyone knows more, please fill me in!)
Kurt
Progress Report on the republication of Denver South Park & Pacific
Printing of the last few pages of the 1976 edition of Mac Poor's "Denver South Park & Pacific" (the reprint of the original 1949 edition) is taking place as this newsletter is being printed. The printed sheets have been folded and collated as they come off the press and the gathered pages should be ready to be sent to the bindery in June. With a couple of months for binding and another for inspection, packaging, and shipping, the first of the books should begin reaching their destinations in late September or early October, providing unexpected problems do not arise to delay production. Do not delay mailing in your order for the book if you wish to take advantage of the pre-publication bargain price of $19.00. When the first books are received from the bindery, the price will be raised to $24.00. For quality and content, this book will be far superior to many of the $30.00 to $35.00 railroad books on the market today.
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