Re: Telegraph wires

In a cursory search of dated photos, the final rebuild of the Denver-Buena Vista line occurred after the summer of 1914 and before 1920. A photo of the Baileys depot in Klingers' Platte Canyon Memories shows the old undereave crossarm construction in a photo date July 1917. This would have been removed during the rebuild, but I would like to find more dated evidence to triangulate this date.

Prior to this rebuild, it was four wires, Denver to Como, with a peculiar 5th wire showing on a second crossarm in the stretch right around the Buffalo depot in some photos dated 1914.

Incidently, 1880's vintage WU-marked insulators were used widely on the system. I have them from Estabrook, St. Elmo, and Rocky Point on Boreas. Photos show them in use in these areas as well. Not sure if this has any bearing on the later rebuild. Signs on depots in the early 1880's show WU was on the South Park system early on.

Ed, Your knowledge of wires and systems is most interesting to me. My interest has always been pole construction and I have been derelict in learning how it all tied together in the depots and such. I would like to discuss this with you off-line, if you would. Drop me a line ? cgico@comcast.net

I will continue trying to narrow down the time frame in which that rebuild was done.