Hello Members,
I am doing extensive research in to the narrow gauge route of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado and New Mexico. I am particularly interested in the area between Chama, NM and Durango , CO and to Pagosa Springs, CO I know that there was an extensive logging industry in the area when the railroad arrived and up to its abandonment in the 60's. I am interested in finding out more information, pictures, maps, routes, and other member knowledge on the subject.
Narrow Gauge Logging Railroads of Southwestern Colorado and Northern New Mexico
The logging railroads were:
The logging spurs of Tres Piedras
- R. W. Stewart & Company
- Denver & Rio Grande Railroad
Located spurs north and south of Tres Piedras, NM on the Chili Line branch of the D&RG, with lumber mill in Tres Piedras operational in the 1880's and 18890's.
La Madera, New Mexico
- The Hallack & Howard Lumber Company
Logging Along the Rio Chama
- The Denver & Rio Grande
- A.T. Sullenberger & Company
- Laws & Biggs
- J.D. Biggs & Sons
- Chama Lumber Company
- Biggs Lumber Company
- Tierra Amarilla Southern Railroad
- Burns-Biggs Lumber Company
Located along the main line of the Denver & Rio Grande, San Juan Extension, operations extended from 1880's to 1960's, using, oxen, horses, railroads, mills etc.
Pagosa Springs
- The New Mexico Lumber Company
- The Rio Grande & Pagosa Springs Railroad
- The Rio Grande, Pagosa & Northern Railroad
- The Pagosa Lumber Company
- The Del Norte & Pagosa Railway
- The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad
- The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad
Lumberton
- The Rio Grande & Southwestern Railroad
- The Burns-Biggs Lumber Company
- The E. M. Biggs Tie and Stores Company
- The New Mexico Lumber Comapany
Dulce
- The Pagosa Lumber Company
Logging Along the Rio Grande Southern
- A. A. Rust's Logging Railroad
- The Sayre-Newton Lumber Company
- Montezuma Lumber Company
- Hallack & Howard Lumber Company
Glenco
-The Montezuma Lumber Company
Dolores
- The New Mexico Lumber Company
- The Montezuma Lumber Company
Velarde, NM
-The Santa Barbara Tie & Pole Co.
I am interested in these lumber companies and their railroads as I would like to re-trace the routes if possible into Google Earth and eventually make a Digital Elevation Model of the region and import it into a railroad simulator called Trainz 2012 to model the railroads virtually as they were before. I am looking to collaborate with others to obtain more information on the routes and companies that operated along the Denver & Rio Grande.
I have the fine book Logging Along the Denver & Rio Grande by Gordon Chappell and The R.G. S. 12 volume series and the book that covers logging of the New Mexico Lumber Company/Montezuma Lumber Company west of Dolores.
Thank you,
Ethan
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2015 08:49PM by Colorado76.
