Sunday, May 11, 2025

4 Sections of Relaid C&S Track: Boreas Pass area

Here is a look at 4 places you can find C&S rails relaid on the original roadbed between Peabodys (outside of Como) and Breckenridge. Since the line was abandoned in 1937 and the rails pulled in 1938, a few spots of relaid rails have sprung up. There are four:

4. A short segment of track at what is known as “Rocky Point.” The C&S roadbed from Como to Breckenridge has been converted for auto use. One of the few spots where the road leaves the grade is here, allowing this C&S track recreation to be built (by the Forest Service, I think?). 

3. The lead track to Boreas Pass summit engine house. The engine house burned long before the railroad called it quits, but its ruins are still visible. A segment of track leading to the ruins once held reconstructed C&S boxcar 8311. 8311 has been in Como for several years for restoration work and, as far as I know, it will be returned to this spot in the future.

2. A portion of the passing siding at Boreas Pass summit. I don’t know the intention of this very short piece of track, but it sits on (or near) what was the location of the passing track adjacent to the old C&S mainline on the side nearest to the section house.

1. The display track at Highline Railroad Park in Breckenridge. While there are several display tracks, the main one sits on the original grade and displays a rebuilt C&S boxcar, C&S 2-6-0 No. 9, and a White Pass & Yukon rotary snowplow relettered for the Denver, Leadville & Gunnison (another C&S predecessor).

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