Josh:
Don't forget the branch lines.
Rotary OO was only used on Marshall Pass once or twice, but it ran from Gunnison to Crested Butte, Anthracite, and Floresta several times a year. The Floresta branch had some of the deepest snow on the D&RGW narrow gauge and sometimes was not opened by 00 until June. The D&RGW purchased 00 from the CF&I to keep the Crested Butte branch open as the CF&I coal mine at Crested Butte was once the largest coal mine in Colorado.
Until the D&RGW did some work on the cuts with a ditcher in the 30s, the Crested Butte branch had more rotary runs than any other place on the D&RGW or RGS. Also, the abandonment of the Floresta branch in 29 and the closing of the Smith Hill mine, reduced the need for a rotary north and west of Crested Butte.
Rotary ON was used on Marshall Pass, Poncha Pass, the Monarch branch, Orient branch, the Ibex branch, and the Blue River branch. It was loaned to the DSP&P a couple of times and to the RGS at least once.
Marshall Pass was higher than Cumbres, but the summit was protected by a long snowshed with the depot and turntable inside. Unlike the snow shed at Cumbres, the Marshall Pass shed covered the main line. Marshall Pass did not have the wide open spaces like Cumbres has in spots. Snow is actually a bigger problem in the open areas as it drifts more. Some of the cuts can be a problem as the main problem with the Crested Butte branch was Slate Cut south of Crested Butte.
Following are a couple of examples of snow fighting on Marshall Pass.
February 25, 1917
Heavy Snows On Marshall Pass
Owing to a heavy fall of snow on Marshall Pass the narrow gauge trains have been indefinitely delayed. The rotary (ON) was sent out from Salida last night to aid in clearing the lines.
February 26, 1918, Tuesday
Violent Storm Blocks Passes; Railroad Busy. The rotary with five engines left Salida yesterday and opened Marshall Pass. The rotary plied back and forth followed by trains. Passenger trains used two engines on the trip.
Snow fighting is an exciting and interesting part of the D&RGW story, but it is more than just Cumbres and the 50s and 60s.
