drgwcarman Wrote:
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> Ditcher 086 was acquired by the Grande in August
> 1923 under AFE 886 from the Marion Steam Shovel
> Co., Marion, Ohio.
> for $8,205.28. It would remain in service as the
> 086 until December 1943 when it was retired and
> dismantled at Pueblo, Colo.
> Sister 085, acquired under the same AFE, was also
> a Marion product.
>
> The original flat car 21147 on which 086 rides was
> released 10-20-1926 replaced by the 21071. This
> car in turn was eventually
> renumbered X-3159 in March 1944.
>
> Those are indeed rails the ditcher is riding on.
> The larger over-all view shows the ends of the
> rail and other ditcher photos
> from the era also show the same configuration.
> The wheels were multi-gauge for narrow or standard
> gauge service.
>
> The machine is not tied or chained down because it
> travels back and forth on top of the flat car in
> order to fill the air dumps coupled
> on each end of the flat, with over burden and
> debris from cleaning the ditches along side the
> right of way and improving drainage.
> When filled the work train will then take the
> outfit to another location where the air dump cars
> are emptied. Though standard for the
> era, the system was cumbersome in that the outfit
> would have to constantly get in the clear for
> regular traffic. Eventually, with the
> acquisition of crawler or tracked drag line /
> shovels by the D&SL and D&RGW as well as other
> heavy equipment, the process
> became much more efficient.
>
> The photo by the way is at Glade, Colorado, some 7
> miles south of Castle Rock. August 1926.
>
> John T.
John thank you so much for adding all history behind the ditcher and it's operation! Nice to see your post.
William
aka drgwk37
