Breckenridge Blue River Bridge restored!

Here are photos of the rebuilt Colorado and Southern Railway bridge over the Blue River in Breckenridge. Photos courtesy of Gary H. Roberts.

Historic C&S bridge in Breckenridge rebuilt!

Back in early 2025 Breckenridge History contacted Bob Schoppe, president of the DSP&P Historical Society, for help with research related to the C&S trestle bents still standing in the Blue River in Downtown Breckenridge. Their goal was to reconstruct a historical accurate replica of part of the trestle with rails and all. Bob reached out to others on the C&Sng Forum and took the gathered information back to Breckenridge History. 

Bob noted that "Wes Pfarner, the librarian/archivist at the Friends library in Albuquerque provided generic specs on wood trestles from 'A treatise on wooden trestle bridges according to the present practice on American railroads'.  It looks really close (albeit std guage) but I am not certain."

He also pointed out that "Breckenridge History (formerly Breckenridge Heritage Alliance) has done a lot for preserving RR history in Summit County.  The Railroad Park in Breck is amazing and they have also supported our work in Como.  Restoring that short section of trestle over the Blue river would be, quite simply, really cool."

The great news is that work is now complete and only awaits the historical signage. The DSP&P Historical  Society provided all the rail used for the display. The work had a long-term vision as well: BH placed sleeves (fiberglass filled with epoxy) around the pilings to strengthen them. Bob pointed out, "[BH] said that the wood above water was well 'weatherworn' but below the water was in excellent shape."

Below are photos of the work taken by Larry Crispell of BH.

Footage of the C&Sng in the 1930s

I wanted to bring attention to a great video called Excursion to the Thirties which includes a good stretch of C&S narrow gauge film footage.  

I originally posted a clip from a Youtube channel that posted it. Later, I found out that the DVD is still commercially available. In light of this, I removed the video link.

The video is available for purchase at a number of sites including...

Walthers

Railfan Depot

Trainfan Video Depot

In the video you'll see:

Clear Creek segment (1938 and 1939)

Here you'll see...

On August 11th, 1939 C&S 70 working in Idaho Springs.

C&S 69 running light past the Argo Mine

C&S 70 backing with a train of gondolas to Black Hawk

C&S 70 and train returning to Forks Creek

    -you'll see the crew perform a flying switch with caboose 1003

    -keep an eye out for the brakeman when he steps between the caboose and a rapidly approaching boxcar!

C&S 70 and train now eastbound heading for Golden

You'll see C&S 9 and 65 (with one as a midtrain helper) along with caboose 1003 traveling from Golden to Forks Creek on July 19, 1938. C&S 9 is now on display in Breckenridge. 

Leadville Segment (1938)

Here you'll see...

the Leadville depot

the Leadville engine house

C&S 74 switching cars in the Leadville yards on July 6th, 1938 for the Molybdenum mine. The train then heads towards Climax with what appears to be caboose 1009.  C&S engine 74 and caboose 1009 are both now at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden.

Boreas Pass Segment (1938)

Here you'll see..

C&S 71, 8 (dead), and 69 leave Breckenridge for Como on an equipment transport prior to abandonment. C&S 71 is now on display in Central City.

    -Watch for two crew members riding the front of 71 apparently keeping an eye on the unmaintained track

C&S 73, westbound, with a scrap train traveling through Webster on July 19, 1938

The train climbing to the top of Kenosha Pass. 

The train running through Kenosha summit. Track has been relaid at the summit near the site of the wye used to turn helpers.

Later in the day, the same train climbs eastbound up out of the South Park with 69 as helper

After reaching Kenosha summit, C&S 69 uncouples and backs up light to Como

The history of Highline Railroad Park video

Highline Railroad Park in Breckenridge, Colorado is a park dedicated to the history of the DSP&P/DL&G/C&S line over Boreas Pass.  On display are C&S engine No. 9, C&S boxcar 8323, and replica C&S caboose 1012.  Also on display are are a White Pass & Yukon rotary snowplow and a D&RGW flatcar.  This video below shows some brief history surrounding the park and some of the rolling stock on display.

When I first visited Breckenridge in the early 1990s I only saw a sign commemorating the Boreas Pass route.  I was unaware that there was a rotary snowplow on display near a cemetery.  On a return visit in the early 2000s I saw the Rotary Snowplow Park for the first time.  When I was there it was just the White Pass rotary with two C&S boxcars behind it.  Finally, in my family's 2018 trip we were able to see the full Highline Railroad Park with No. 9, the replica C&S caboose, and all the other added signage and playground details.  

I didn't get any footage of the Highline RR Park's museum building.  Sorry!