Re: Logging Along the Denver & Rio Grande
| November 25, 2015 02:36PM |
Starting with the information I obtained from Gordon Chappell's book, Logging Along the Denver & Rio Grande. I have located and traced the Bigg's Lumber Company spur at Willow Creek. This spur took off at milepost 348.41 on the Denver & Rio Grande San Juan Extension. The main spur was 2,184' long with a capacity of 86 cars.
The second spur was 410' long with a capacity of 20 cars.
The site was occupied between the years of 1885-1900. Exact date is unknown. There is also a probability of a railroad of 10 miles extending south from this site, but so far I have not uncovered any evidence of such an operation... further information is welcomed and pending on being discovered.
Here is a picture of the Willow Creek Mill in the mid-1880's.
The photo is looking towards the North-Northeast. In the left is the San Juan Mainline. The box cars are spotted on the #2 spur which appears to be loaded as well. The mill is in the foreground and a water car has been spotted next to the mill.
A comparison shot to the picture previous. Note the extensive erosion due to the clear cutting of the trees in the general area.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2015 02:41PM by Colorado76.
The second spur was 410' long with a capacity of 20 cars.
The site was occupied between the years of 1885-1900. Exact date is unknown. There is also a probability of a railroad of 10 miles extending south from this site, but so far I have not uncovered any evidence of such an operation... further information is welcomed and pending on being discovered.
Here is a picture of the Willow Creek Mill in the mid-1880's.
The photo is looking towards the North-Northeast. In the left is the San Juan Mainline. The box cars are spotted on the #2 spur which appears to be loaded as well. The mill is in the foreground and a water car has been spotted next to the mill.
A comparison shot to the picture previous. Note the extensive erosion due to the clear cutting of the trees in the general area.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2015 02:41PM by Colorado76.
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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.