Re: Colorado Logging Railroads

Dear Mr. Rich Purcell,
Now your question is very specific. The answer is only two, or possibly three logging railroads in that area. The book I listed in my post of 12/02/09 is the best source. The logging roster shown in the book 'Logging Railroads of the West" by Kramer Adams 1961 may be of interest. Some maps, with errors, are in "Rio Grande...to the Pacific".

At Frazer was the Middle Park Lumber Co. Railroad with a mill on St Louis Creek 1906 to 1913, built 6 miles of logging line of 45" gauge. It owned one Climax locomotive.

From Granby, connection with DNW&P, to mill on Monarch lake, the Rocky Mountain Ry built 15 or 16 miles of SG track in 1906 and the mill was reported burned in late 1908 and railroad removed maybe 1920 after 12+- idle years.
It used ex-DL&W #293 (Dickson #356) as No. 7., later scrapped.


Now we get to the most unknow possible railroad in Colorado. Some reports say it was 21 miles long and named "Grand Lake Lumber and Crate Company" only existing 1935 to 1936. If built, it may have been operated by highway truck type of equipment, as this was during the depression. It may have run from Granby, over the old Ry Mt Ry via Lehman extending up and along the south side of Grand Lake. But this is speculation subject to anyone's correction. No information has been found in the Logging industry's magazine publications of that era.

What has been found was a very large logging operation along the Craig branch which was fed by a very long flume company. But that is for another time and place to identify.