Nit-picking on D&RG

Randy Hees Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is a difference between incorporation date,
> and first operating date.... sometimes a
> significant difference. In many cases the
> incorporation date is the "start raising capital
> to build"
>
> Pittsburg and Castle Shannon first ran trains as a
> common carrier 11/1/1871, having been organized
> 9/1/1871, taking over an earlier private coal
> carrying railroad.
>
> According to Ahern, the passenger train on the
> D&RG was run from Denver to Colorado Springs on
> Oct 28 1871...
>
> So it looks like the D&RG beat Castle Shannon by a
> couple of days...

However the early revenue trains on the D&RG line, going back to lumber from Plum September 7th and passenger trains in as early as August 14th, were operated by the construction company. The D&RG Ry didn't start operations in its own name until it took control of the Denver - Colorado Springs segment in January of 1872.
I'm not sure when the first D&RG rails left the steel mill in England, they were laid in Denver in the Summer of 1871, starting July 28th.
So, a question of definitions...

Hank