The use of the SN engine house is a cooperative effort between the owner of the structure, the San Juan County Historical Society, and the Durango group. We first met informally about this earlier this summer, then had an on-site visit with the people involved in both groups, and then the D&S lent its support to the project. As reported, work has started on rearranging contents of the structure to allow use of one bay for the storage of the 315. The D&S has been in contact with their primary private contractor, Maisel Construction in Silverton, rail has been obtained, and the D&S will provide the 2 switches needed. We also met in Silverton with a representative of the Colorado Historical Society who was given an outline of the proposed relaying of historic track, and then she was given a tour of the property, with a grant request to be written and submitted for the October submittal deadline.
The outline of the former SN trackage is plainly visible on a frosty morning as each location of the ties, removed some 60 or more years ago, pops out in the early morning. The connecting grade from the SN line that went from the engine house up Cement Street to the siding now occupied by mostly drop bottom gons is still very evident and largely undisturbed. The CHS is willing to fund projects that can be documented and this track connection is relatively easy to establish.
Existing town ordinances dating from 1881 and 1882 and then again in 1896 allow for the use of certain streets and alleys for railroad use. In this instance, permission will be sought to use a portion of Cement Street for track at street grade since the parties involved are non-profit groups and not the D&S, which has rights "for ever" to operate its tracks in the public right-of-way.
One part of the proposal is to ultimately utilize the entire engine house for the 315 and for freight car restoration work. The structure has power installed and will need a water and sewer connection. As for being isolated, the 315 couldn't be much closer to an operating railroad and that eliminates the risky trucking situation except for visits to Chama, and maybe elsewhere. The other aspect of isolation is moot to the 400 or so folks who live in Silverton year round, and US 550 sees heavy traffic all months of the year. The engine house also solves the D&S position of dealing with a non-railroad owned piece of equipment on its property from a liability and insurance stand point.
For Silverton, having the 315 housed here is a great plus. We have a strong historical society--its president, Bev Rich, won a National Honor award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the top preservation award given in this country, for her work on behalf of historic preservation. We can now start in earnest in working on the long stalled "rail freight museum" started by the D&S a few years back, and with the support of Al Harper and the D&S staff, I think we will start to see some positive action here in Silverton. The thought of rebuilding the SN on to Howardsville and further is in the thinking of most of us involved, and now maybe we will have the first 100 feet or so of the SN relaid. It's an exciting project.
Fritz Klinke
