Re: C-16 #210 "Silverheel" question

D.W:
As I have stated here before, one of the problems with the nothing but picture books that we have seen so much of on the D&RGW and RGS, is that there was so much that was never photographed or the photos have been lost or destroyed. The complete story can only be determined from railroad records, newspapers, accounts of some of the old timers. The snow fighting book I am working on will have so many interesting events that were not photographed or if they were, I have not been able to find photos.
I have recently become very interested in the D&RG branches out of Leadville: The Blue River and Ibex. The Ibex branch was the highest point on the D&RGW. It lasted until 1944 and was narrow gauge until 1917. The D&RG was still using narrow gauge rotary ON up there as late as 1914 and flangers until 1917. I have found only one photo of a rotary on the Ibex branch and even such early birds as Jack Thode said he never photographed the line. That is why so many modellers only think of the weed grown, paint falling off, rusty D&RGW narrow gauge of the 50s and 60s and it is their loss not to look deeper.