Spring in Como

While the first Como track work day of 2019 will be on June 1, a little preliminary work got underway this weekend;


In anticipation of the June 1 work day, rail and ties were set out for the first track project of 2019, building 3 rail lengths of track 6 by the roundhouse so that Colorado & Southern boxcar 8027 has a place to call home when it arrives during the second week of June. The little white flag (which is actually pink) marks the center of the track.


The stall 3 excavating crew was at work in the roundhouse cleaning all of the rubble out of the inspection pit in stall 3. ( L to R, Pat Mauro, Alex and Jeff Ramsey)



A closer look at the inspection pit. The pit features wood planks on the bottom, masonry walls with wood timbers on top and is about 50 feet long. The timbers will be replaced along with some repairs to the masonry below and then rails will be placed on the timbers. As best as can be determined this pit survived fairly intact as it was used as a conveyer pit to move sawdust out of the roundhouse by the sawmill that occupied the building in the 1940's and 1950's. The sawmill filled in the last 8 feet or so of the pit with stone rubble (giving the excavation crew plenty of work!) and knocked out a section of the stone wall on one side to provide a way for sawdust to be placed in the pit. (The stone wall will be repaired as well)


South Park Rail Society directors Tim Bain and Jerry Huck busied themselves installing a new floor in the shop space located in stall 6 of the roundhouse. The wood came from the Georgetown Loop's Silver Plume boarding platform, which is being replaced with new lumber.


Jason Midyette