Peyton,
Until the end of WWII, Salida was busier for the narrow gauge than Alamosa or Durango. Coal came from Crested Butte, limestone from Monarch, ties and timbers came from areas around Gunnison to the Koppers Tie Plant. Earlier iron ore came from the Orient branch until 1932. The Cleora stock yard transferred thousands of head of cattle and sheep. There were precious mineral mines at Bonanza near Villa Grove that shipped on the RR. There was even a mine on Marshall Pass. Uranium ore was loaded on Marshall Pass, the loading ramp is still there.

The electric power plant in Salida by the river got coal from Crested Butte. There were the usual oil and gas loading facilities.