Re: Standard Gauge from the North in the San Luis Valley

dougvv Wrote:
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>




>
> I do not recall when the northward extension of
> what became the Valley Line from Alamosa was made
> or how far it may have gone (Hooper maybe for
> farming). The NG connection between the two was
> made (IIRC) when the front range dual gauge was
> standard gauged and they wanted to keep a NG
> connection between the Gunnison lines and the
> Durango lines.
>
Villa Grove to Alamosa, 1890. At that time it was not so much to allow a connection between 3rd & 4th division lines (and yes, I know that the numbers were changing right about the same time) but to allow concentrates(ore) from 4th div. mines to reach smelters at Pueblo & Leadville w/o changing cars. Also, the through passenger service to Alamosa & Durango went via Salida until after the new line via La Veta was built (1890-1900[1901?]) (Ala-Dur trains were renumbered to 115/116 in 1901)
Oh, and the RGS track had rail as heavy as most of the D&RG in this time period, heavier over Lizard Head in fact (57 lbs for RGS 52 lbs max for D&RG). Of course RGS line wasn't completed until 1891.
hank