Re: Sumpter Valley's Other Gondolas
| January 10, 2013 10:56PM |
Hi Bret,
The other two D&RGW high side gondolas we had at the SVRR were the D&RGW #1157 (SVRy #1201) and the #1089 (SVRy #1202)
Both of this cars were originally built by American Car & Foundry in 1902 and rebuilt by the D&RGW in 1923. Later they were both sold to Al Shaffer in 1970 and stored in Alamosa, Colorado. In 1994, the SVRR went down to Alamosa and bought them both; along with a third high side gondola that we never brought back to Oregon. Hey Jim! Do you remember who went down there???
In 1994, these cars were given new SVRR numbers 1201 and 1202 but around 2003 we (Taylor & Jerry) painted them again and returned their original D&RGW numbers. In 2004 we Sold them to the Colorado Historical Society in for use on the Georgetown Loop Railway, where they still are today.
An interesting side note; it looks the SVRR was not the first to use the #1157 (SVRR 1201) in passenger service. It turns out that this gondol was also one of three gondola cars that were used by the Rio Grande Southern Railway on their very last passenger train seen below in September of 1951. (Below photo Mallory Hope Ferrell photo, BCRHS Collection).
The other two D&RGW high side gondolas we had at the SVRR were the D&RGW #1157 (SVRy #1201) and the #1089 (SVRy #1202)
Both of this cars were originally built by American Car & Foundry in 1902 and rebuilt by the D&RGW in 1923. Later they were both sold to Al Shaffer in 1970 and stored in Alamosa, Colorado. In 1994, the SVRR went down to Alamosa and bought them both; along with a third high side gondola that we never brought back to Oregon. Hey Jim! Do you remember who went down there???
In 1994, these cars were given new SVRR numbers 1201 and 1202 but around 2003 we (Taylor & Jerry) painted them again and returned their original D&RGW numbers. In 2004 we Sold them to the Colorado Historical Society in for use on the Georgetown Loop Railway, where they still are today.
An interesting side note; it looks the SVRR was not the first to use the #1157 (SVRR 1201) in passenger service. It turns out that this gondol was also one of three gondola cars that were used by the Rio Grande Southern Railway on their very last passenger train seen below in September of 1951. (Below photo Mallory Hope Ferrell photo, BCRHS Collection).
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.