Re: What is a "First" - and D&RG Rail

Hi Hank and Randy. To determine a "first", it for sure depends on what criteria you use to start the clock ticking. On what date was a railway incorporated, an official sod turning ceremony, start of grading, first track laid, date of first directors' special or public excursion, contractor's trains, first work train to arrive in a town, etc etc.

I tend to negate the first ones because many lines were chartered and even grading started, but never built. And contractors often hauled passengers, even if they were just workers, and took some bucks on the side hauling freight. That's why I guess actually running a scheduled public train is the benchmark for a common carrier.

Anyway, a question about the first D&RG rail coming from England - I didn't realize that. And as per an earlier thread, early Carson & Colorado rail was English as well. I would have thought there was plenty of capacity in the USA after the Civil War, but maybe not.

So who was the D&RG rail manufacturer? And by any chance does a museum have a piece of this?

Cheers,
Ralph