Re: OM

Both OM and ON were involved in a number of avalanches, slides, and roll overs. As the body was just a wooden structure, was fairly easy and cheap to rebuild in those days. I would image the D&RG learned from their snow fighting operations and that is why the new bodies are really different from the original.

Following is an account of a wreck of Rotary ON in 1899...

February 22, 1899, Wednesday

Rotary Fell Down Precipice -
Wonderful Escape of a Train Crew Near Kokomo –

The narrow gauge rotary snow plow sent out by the D&RG to clear the Blue River branch of that road in order to rush provisions into Dillon and other storm isolated towns, fell crashing fifty feet into space yesterday afternoon and is now buried in a huge snow drift at the foot of a mountain west of Kokomo.

No one was killed, although the conductor sustained severe scalp wounds and other of the crew were slightly bruised and cut. Reports received at the general office in Denver state that none of the men are seriously hurt.

Had the mountain side been steep, the accident would have been appalling in its result.