Re: D&RGW 2-8-8-4 in a barn in WI...

Can't say that I ever saw it run, but I drooled over it a number of times while it sat in his "roundhouse" in the north side of Boulder. He also had built a Shay, using a set of old Locomobile cylinders to drive it. Ralph was, by profession, an employee of the highway department, but he was a creative and persistent old guy who cobbled together incredible things out of what many would consider to be junk. I used to take my kids over there once in a while, and if we caught him at the right time and in the right mood, he'd give us rides around his track behind a diesel replica that he had built. We were always welcomed, but some days he wasn't into showing off. He had also built a steam-powered sawmill. Hearing the whistle on that thing is what first drew to his place. I was at an event at the country club just south of there and hastily excused myself to go find out where the sound was coming from. I was amazed at what I found.

It was a sad day when he died and we lost access to his empire. I've often wondered where his creations went. For a short while, there was talk of building on a grade that had been established toward Lefthand Canyon, but, Boulder being Boulder, the idea never gained traction . Too many environmentalists opposed to it.

Ed Frey
Loveland, CO