Re: Tracks Across Borders Scenic Byway=Pagosa Junction

No question that the ties have been pulled up. That track is orginal and not relaid. I was last there about nine years ago and there was no evidence of missing ties. The story I heard as to why the track, buildings and indeed the pipe gon are still there was that the Southern Ute refused the scrapper permission to enter their land.

There were a number of buildings still remaining on the land after abandonment. The stone pump house which pumped river water to the tank, there were a number of box cars (4000 series possibly) formed into living quarters just behind the tank and I believe author John Norwood lived in this accomodation. There was a section house, a privvy and a explosives store (which was built into the earth) at the East of the track. The depot disappeared in the 50's and went, I think, to Amargo complete with bullet holes! In its place was left a small hut. I have never seen a photo of the back of the original depot and Bill Banta who makes a rather nice lazer kit for the depot has also failed to find a photo.

Everyone talks about the Ruben Gomez store but he also had a warehouse almost exactly opposite on the other side of the tracks. That was moved and ended up on the hill above Trujillo road where it was struck by lightning and burned. There was another general store in Gato owned by the Zabriskie family. Not sure of the fate of that.

But the history of why the Springs branch was built in the first place and its place in the logging industry under a fellow called Alexander Sullenburger makes for an interesting bit of research. I wrote a two part article about it for the ill fated 'Colorado Narrow Gauge Quarterly' magazine - probably aiding its demise!

Here a pic from 2003 showing the ties very much in place. The boxcar bungalow is in the background.

Mark K