Re: Class 56 location

Wade Hall Wrote:
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> There is an area in the canyon near Dominguez
> where the original narrow-gauge line actually
> crossed the river to the west side for distance
> then crossed back to the east side.

> When the line was
> standard-gauged, the track was re-aligned to stay
> on the east of the river for the entire distance
> from the bridge west of Roubideaux all the way to
> Grand Junction.

I think this relocation was made in 1883-1884 (opened March 25, 1884) not 1906. See CRA #8, p 77. It includes a tunnel that most people seem to forget when discussing tunnels on the D&RG 3' lines. Apparently it was cheaper to drill the tunnel than replace all the temporary bridges on the original line with more permanant structures!

As a std. ga, line this section had the tightest clearances on the D&RGW as late as the early 1970's. (it may be so still, I don't have any more recent data.)

hank