Re: Remembering Ernie - on the Chihuahua Mineral RR

The last train was operated on March 6, 1971 by engine 7. This 1925 Baldwin engine was acquired from the Thunder Lake Logging Co that ran out of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and was placed in service on October 31, 1941. The engine was donated to the Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation in 1972, and returned to Rhinelander in February, 1973, for preservation in the municipal logging museum. Grades on the FCM were up to 3 percent, hence the dramatic action on the uphill run. An excellent article with great photos is in the Colorado Rail Annual No. 11. (in my view the last two photos taken by Ernie in the above postings are still the most dramatic)