Greg, the Great Western is much different than it was in the beet-hauling days. To your questions:
1. No, The current line between Ft Collins and Greeley was formally the C&S/BN Greeley line. Was sold to GWR before the BNSF merger. The remainder is mostly the same, although the Eaton line continued between Windsor and Eaton, was scrapped 15-20 years ago. Some trackage, such as the Buda/Welty branch that runs west from Johnstown, has no online business and simply exists for car storage. Currently the majority of the business is into Windsor, with a unit sand train being unloaded there almost every day. Motive power is borrowed UP and BNSF big power and a couple SD40-2 locomotives in a mismatch of paint schemes.
2. Traditionally the GW maintained interchange with C&S at Loveland, Windsor, and Longmont, and the UP at Kelim, Eaton, and Miliken. I get the feeling that normally they used the closest interchange from the origination point. So sugar refined in Loveland would be shipped out via Loveland and Kelim. I don't know who got the most, but both the C&S and UP in northern Colorado would had been heavily involved with agriculture back then.
3. Diesels showed up in 1951, . They did handle routine duties throughout the year. So yes, the remaining steam was the reserve for the beet campaigns.
4. April 1967, for $23,000 says the Sugar Tramp book..
5. From what the book says, they used the steam until they were sold. #75 sold in 1965, #51 in 1963, #60 also in August 1963.
5a. Stand by.
.
That's all pretty much off the top of my head, I can get exact dates if needed as I have all the books and some other documents I collected.
#90 is special to me as I grew up with it, living in Lancaster county in the 60's. Then found myself living in Loveland, some 20 years later. For a while I was able to wander into the Loveland engine house and visit those working there.
Bill Kepner
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2017 12:15PM by drgw0579.
