Re: Elitch's train

John Shriver was the builder who made the 4-4-0 (9.5" gauge) that ran at Elich's. He installed it there in 1897 and it was prominently featured in the Denver Post. He was invited to take it to the Omaha Exposition in 1898, but Mrs. Elitch wouldn't let him out of his contract. Over the winter of 1897-1898 his locomotive provided the basic design for the first locomotives produced by the McGarigle Machine Company of Niagara Falls, which were sold by the Cagney Brothers. The second locomotive the McGarigle's manufactured ran at Omaha in place of Shriver's engine.

I've often wondered if Shriver's original locomotive is still out there somewhere.

Jeff Terry



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2016 07:58PM by Jeff Terry.