Re: Silverton Northern Project Underway ...

Fritz Klinke Wrote (on [ngdiscussion.net]):
========================================
> We are now indeed over the top, exceeding the goal
> amount. My thanks to all of you who have donated.
> We have a meeting scheduled for this Tuesday to
> move ahead with buying ties and committing for the
> dirt work. We need to get off the society owned
> property onto the county road as soon as possible
> and this will get us going.  Don't let reaching our
> goal stop anyone from making additional don-
> ations, as it is all needed and greatly appreci-
> ated!
>
> Two things of interest: BLM officials attending the
> Animas Forks dedication yesterday report that
> they are counting about 600,000 people visit-
> ing Animas Forks this summer -- that's amazing
> and shows that people are here visiting; how to get
> them to ride the D&S and C&TS {and eventually
> the rebuilt SN} is the challenge ...


Hello all -

This old Curmudgeon lucked out last Friday (09/19) and found Fritz in his office out east of Silverton across from the power house, only a few yards from the soon-to-be-revived SN's starting point.  Fritz graciously invited me to the celebration of the San Juan Historical Society's 50th Anniversary, held at the superb Museum next to the Court House that evening:


A most enjoyable aspect of the festivities was the performance by Silverton's small but enthusiastic Brass Band.  The gentleman at the far right below - playing the cornet - is Loren Lew, Fritz' business partner in the numerous excellent restorations they have done for the Colorado Historical Society in recent years:


After breakfast Saturday morning, I accompanied Fritz out to the location where the Silverton Northern will commence construction.  Several tons of donated rail were in evidence, where we "supervised" Ken Safranski and Tony Vowels unloading of the first shipment of ties purchased as a result of some recent donations to the SN fund - including a significant amount given by members of the NGDF:


Tony guides Ken as he unloads the third bundle of ties:


After heading down to the depot to watch the arrival of the second D&S train, and then the departure of the first, Fritz led us over to the Silverton Northern engine house, where we squeezed in to inspect the recently restored SN caboose #1005 and the winter quarters of D&RGW #315:


Thank You, Fritz and friends, for helping make my way-too-brief visit to Silverton so enjoyable!!

- Rüsso (muy) Loco

p.s. Fritz Klike Wrote (in a p.m. 09/26):
========================================
> We just received a $3,333 grant from the local
> power association for the Silverton Northern,
> and that was a surprise. With freight, the track
> material for 300' of track comes to $3,300 and
> I am ordering that Friday.  That's about $10 a
> foot, so 2.5 miles = a lot of money. This does
> not include rail if we have to purchase that.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2014 12:42PM by Russo Loco.