Back in the days when super 8 and 8 mm movie prints were popular, Blackhawk sold a series of three color (not colorized) films taken in Colorado and on the White Pass & Yukon by Woodrow Gorman. Gorman visited Colorado in 1940 and again after World War II, making at least two visits to the D&RGW and RGS. He also visited the White Pass & Yukon after the war. The film from several trips seems to have been edited into three programs: "Rio Grande Southern and the Trestles of Ophir," "Bustling Narrow Gauge," and "White Pass and Yukon." These films were later offered as a single VHS tape from Interpark, in Cortez, Colorado. I bought my copy of the tape at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
The Crested Butte footage is on the "Bustling Narrow Gauge" feature. No. 498 arrives in Crested Butte, and switches empties at the mine. There is NO doubt that the 498 sported a nice new paint job including the speed lettering - and a very obvious oxide red cab roof. Now that was NOT standard practice on the D&RGW narrow gauge. But there it is. In full living color. I won't vouch for the boiler jacket being anything other than black in the film, because the film to video transfer isn't everything I would want. But there is NO doubt that the oxide red cab roof matches the oxide red on the gondolas trailing 498's tender. I am satisfied that this is accurate rendition of color film, not a modern attempt at colorizing black and white movies.
I don't know if Mr. Gorman is still living, or who owns his movies now. Tracing the originals may not be easy. But, I would offer this suggestion for non-believers - check the tape, or see if you can find a friend with a copy of the old Blackhawk film, and check it under a loupe. I think you will find the red cab roof is really there at that time.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion...
Charlie Mutschler
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