Bucking snow on the South Park Line, 2019 style

Leadville, CO on a snowy February 22. 1934. Otto Perry photo of C&S 76, 73, & 75
Denver Public Library Special Collections, OP-6132

One of the many reasons that narrow gauge railroading holds so much fascination is its struggle with the natural elements. Engineering required to traverse the Rocky Mountains is a marvel in itself, but a close second is fighting the powerful dragon known as snow.

One part of the old South Park Line that fought snow in the narrow gauge days was the line to Leadville. The segment from Leadville to Climax lives on as a standard gauge tourist pike called the Leadville, Colorado & Southern. Below are two clips of a LC&S diesel doing what its old narrow gauge relatives did a century ago: buck snow.