Re: Coal around Durango

Coal was a big part of the story of Durango. First it was mined at a new station called Carboneria at 447.5 just east of later Carbon Jct. This was a gassy mine with poor slope and was replaced by a mine developed by the La Plata Coal mine on a branch built north of the main at 442.99. Its mine was just east of the City Mine also developed just east of Durango station by the Denver & Rio Grande.
When the RGS was built, Porter became a major suppler, followed by Hesperus. The finest coal was found on Perins Peak and this shipped more than any other mine over the years.
The story of the Coal fields will be covered in the new RGS Story Volume 9 due early July. The battle over the coal fields west of Durango between the Southern Pacific and D&RG will be in next years issue of RGS Story Volume 10. The BC&F RR story (Perin's Peak) did not fit in Volume 9 and will be in Volume 10.