Re: Central City Narrow Gauge Raiload

After the rails were pulled out by Lindsey and the gang in 1981, another group got together and "restored" the C&S 71 and ran a short tourist line for a short time. After that line shut down, the 71, gondola and combine were moved up the hill to a spot overlooking the town. They stayed there for a while...subjected to all kinds of things....until the locomotive and coach were planted on a "wall" at a casino. The gon stayed behind. There is another #71 in BlackHawk. It's a mexican/central american locomotive that used to be on display at Palmer Lake, Colorado. The original #71 once again sits unloved. We were never allowed to do much with the 71, combine and gon, since they belonged to the Central City Opra Asso. The state histerical society purchased the equipment at one time, for $20.000. They were going to move it to Silver Plume, but the town folks had an uproar and the transaction was cancelled. It probably would have been better of in Plume, however it is a VERY tired engine and would have a rough time passing inspections.

Jerry