Re: D&RG Gunnison Roundhouse

January 20, 1905, Friday
Gunnison, Colorado

ROUNDHOUSE BURNS
D&RG building one-third destroyed by fire; engines 218 and 223 ruined; damage to engines, buildings, and equipment probably $20,000.
At four o'clock Tuesday morning, fire broke out in the old section of the Rio Grande roundhouse and in a few minutes the flooring and woodwork, oil saturated from 25 years usage, were a mass of frames. The night force of workmen got out four engines, but 218 and 223, attached to the wedge plow could not be saved. The stationary engine and boilers, with a lathe, shaper, drills and other machinery were destroyed and the six stalls of the old part gutted. The hose for fighting fire was connected with the stationary engine and could not be gotten at. Hose was laid from the water tank at the freight depot and a bucket brigade of railroad men and citizens stopped the flames at the brick partition separating the new stalls from the older portion.
It is not known how the fire started, but it seems that flames were first seen near one of the engine cabs. Workmen are busy clearing away debris and fitting up such of the machinery as can be repaired.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2020 10:11AM by Jerry474.