This is part 3 of the C&S details found in Bob Richardson's
Narrow Gauge News. Part 1: 1949-1950 is
here. Part 2: 1951 is
here. Below are C&S references in his newsletter from the year 1952. I have underlined some points of particular interest.
*Photos here are just my additions, not from the newsletter.
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| Central City 1964-Author's Collection |
April
Old C&S 71 is no longer missing its bell…sheriff recovered it from teenagers who sold it for scrap
May
May Day saw workmen
tearing down what was left of Jefferson tank on the abandoned C&S in South Park
The famous Chalk Cliffs of “South Park Route” fame rate a full page in color in “Colorado Wonderland’s” Summer issue
July
As an example, more people come to Colorado or one part of it to see Alpine Tunnel than come to see one much-advertised “monument.”
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| East Portal 1950s-John Hallinan Collection |
Many summer visitors like to explore the routes of the abandoned Colorado narrow gauge routes. Some have become roads, others require considerable hiking. Top attraction is Alpine Tunnel, abandoned in 1910 by the Colorado & Southern. A county highway turning off at Nathrop uses the grade most of the way to within about three miles of
the debris-blocked east portal. The west portal and abandoned buildings are reached either by going over the top of the mountain or by hiking from Quartz Creek camp ground some miles beyond Pitkin. U. S. No. 285 is either on or alongside of much of the old South Park line from Bailey over Kenosha Pass, past
abandoned Como roundhouse, depot, etc. and on thru South Park toward Buena Vista and Alpine Tunnel.
Five locomotives, two cabooses, a combine, coach and freight car are persevered and on display at Alamosa (No. 169 4-6-0 and our No. 346 No. 346 2-8-0), Durango (No. 315 2-8-0), Colorado Springs (No. 168 4-6-0), Idaho Springs (C&S 60 2-8-0), Central City (C&S No. 71 2-8-0, gondola and combine of C&S), Silver Plume (C&S 4-wheel caboose). And plans are being carried out to preserve more of the rolling stock.
August
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| Alpine Tunnel boarding house-photo inverted |
Our staff photographer reports after a trip to Alpine Tunnel that snow still hides the west entrance and that
the second floor has collapsed inside the old boarding house
September
On Aug. 25 the D&RGW filed application with the ICC to abandoned the narrow gauge lines west of Poncha Jct. to Gunnison and the branches from that place to Sapinero, Castleton and Crested Butte, 138 miles in all….Gunnison County plans to oppose the abandonment, which will remove 25% of the county’s total assessed tax valuation.
Coal traffic of the Baldwin Branch which Gunnison made no effort to keep when the Valley Line was up for abandonment, would help a lot up that way now.
October
THAT WRECK OF 346 AT KENOSHA PASS
The Mount Blanca & Western’s engine was among three loaned by the D&RGW to the
Colorado & Southern in 1936 and returned the following spring when that line abandoned its road to Leadville. On July 25, 1936, #346 had helped a Denver-bound frt. To the summit of Kenosha Pass and then started down light. Almost exactly a mile form [sic] the summit of the pass, the engine climbed the rails, cut the ties for perhaps 150 feet, then overturned on a sharp curve, suffering considerable damage. Engineer Eugene McGowan could not jump as he got entangled in some cab piping, and he received a fatal scalding from a broken pipe. The fireman had been thrown out of the gangway before the engine overturned. The accident occurred about 300 feet west of Mile Post 75. It was blamed upon too much speed and the fact that two of the engine’s four drives had no flanges.
The engine was returned to Denver, sent to the Burlington shops on a flat car, repaired and returned to service. The present steel cab dates from this time. Tires with flanges were installed on the two “blind” drivers by the D&RGW after the engine was returned to them.
Anyone having photos of the wreck or of this engine in use on the C&S, or additional data, are urged to contact us.
November
In 1938 and 1939
Victor Miller added 125 ex-C&S cars [to the RGS], and most disposed of by him when he lost that post.
In 1949 a 2-8-0, ex-Colorado & Southern No. 74 was acquired from a dealer.
One Goose is working on removal of rail around Dolores; while another is working about midway to Rico on a section of track isolated by washouts.
Two cut down ex-C&S stock cars were hauled by truck to Millwood to replace the worn out flats used by that train.
Vandals have been at engine 74 at Boulder . . . engines worth so much in work, money and trouble are surely worth a few dollars a month of electricity to protect them with a bath of light?
