Re: Silverton Train

Memory does play tricks, and I don't keep lists, and rarely note dates of photographs, etc. I think I could pull out a picture of a D&RGW double header into Silverton in the 70s, but it was a decidely rare event to the point that when we heard of one, it brought all 3 1/2 railfans out of the woodwork here to see it. The Rio Grande really didn't care too much if they left 100 or 200 people standing at the depot trying to get on the train. Union work rules also played a part in what happened in those days, though the particulars are a bit fuzzy now. I do remember a nationwide rail strike during the late 60s or early 70s where the union in Denver told the Silverton branch people to keep on working and to ignore the strike.
I got at least one post that came in my email that I haven't seen posted here. To answer that one, the ownership of the engine house and surrounding ground is with the local historical society. The SN office structure is privately owned. There are no plans to relay any of the 3 shortlines out of Silverton, except a short portion of the Silverton Northern on historical society land at the old power house. The roadbeds are intact in places, or are now county roads or portions of state highway. The SG&N up Cement Creek would be ideal, but any of them possess acquisition of right-of way problems with both private owners and public lands. We try to preserve the right-of-way when land is developed, and so far we have been pretty succesful. I want to institute a "trails to rails" program, but its still just 3 1/2 railfans in town today.
Another comment was on the need for an additional concession car. If they have 4 now, and I don't really know the number, and they go back to 5 trains a day that were running previously, they will be one short. Additional coaches are for hoped for additional business.
One interesting thing happened a week ago. The planning commission and developer walked the Martha Rose/Walsh Smelter site on the south end of town. It was after a small snow storm, and by afternoon, much of the snow had melted, but snow remained on the tie locations of all the sidings in that complex as well as the outlines of buildings even down to where floor joists and support beams had been in several of the smelter structures. It was a beautiful sight, almost as if these relics were seeking recognition one last time before the bulldozers arrive to change that site forever. Even the stone pit for the track scale is still there. We found the location of the water flumes, overflow trenches from the water tank, and a bunch of neat stuff. We also had some photos of the site that helped to identify everything. The developer has agreed as a condition of approval that a key portion of the site will be fenced off and be preserved as a reminder of the smelter. It will be surrounded by housing, but this one place will not be touched. I urged folks once before to visit this site before it is too late, and next April is the start date.