Re: Frank Wright Story

Frank Wright had an incredible career. Started in Gunnison in 1915 and retired in the late 60s. His last job on the D&RGW was engineer on the Grand Junction Hump Engine (5305 chopped nose SD9). Frank arranged a cab ride for me and a tour of the hump tower. He worked GJ to Helper, Utah and GJ to Bond. Also worked the lines south of GJ to Montrose and Somerset and the Aspen branch. He was engineer on a D&RGW 3600 2-8-8-2 that hit a house size rock between Glenwood and Minturn, he survived but his fireman was killed.

Another tidbit from Frank.....In answer to your question regarding the Crested Butte engine house, it was a two stall house and the Crested Butte switch engine was kept in one stall and in the winter, the flanger was kept in the other stall. But the rotary was not kept in there as it was too wide; so it was put outside where the watchman could take care of it.