By Josie Moore Crum SILVERTON RAILROAD SILVERTON, GLADSTONE & NORTHERLY SILVERTON NORTHERN The originals of these articles appeared in Bulletin 74 of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in October 1948. A second edition was published by Bert Baker in the fall of 1956. The present volume contains additional information and pictures gathered since the appearance of the earlier publications. J.M.C. Copyright 1960 by Josie Moore Crum All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

The Southwest has had a most romantic history. It is the oldest portion, both in the way of interior exploration and in the way of settlement, in the United States. The Coronado Expedition of several hundred Spaniards left Mexico in 1540 and journeyed up into what is now central New Mexico. The convoy consisted of soldier aristocrats on their caparisoned horses and in their picturesque regalia, and of common soldiers, fortune seekers and servants. Accompanying the train were hundreds of horses p

The Silverton Railroad! The most intriguing piece of narrow gauge in the world! The railroad of the steepest grades, the sharpest curves, the crookedest loops, the highest altitude and the oddest switchbacks, on one of which sat a wye with a depot inside and on the other a housed-over turntable! And the railroad of the famous Otto Mears passes! Otto Mears and Fred Walsen, after the Opening up of the rich Yankee Girl mine made it feasible, in 1882 and ’83 built a toll road they called the “Rainbo

Denver, Colorado March 28th, 1892. Dear Sir: I beg to hand you herewith a report from the auditor of the earnings of the Silverton Railroad for the years 1889, 1890 and 1891, showing also the mileage and bonded debt. I may add for your information that this road is built through the famous Red Mountain district of the San Juan Country, in which are located the well-known Yankee Girl and Guston mines, besides many other producing properties. This is the only road that can be built through this di

Alex Anderson, Auditor At the time the foregoing statement was made, the Company owned the following equipment: 3 locomotives 2 coaches 1 baggage and express car In addition to the above, the company now owns 50 freight cars, which it has since purchased, and it also has a floating debt of $32,502.76. As has already been noted Engine 100 was purchased and put into service as soon as the railroad started operating. The Rio Grande Southern Railroad bought a number of engines in both 1890 and ’91 a

The Gold King Mining Company, under President W. Z. Kinney, promoted a railroad for the purpose of hauling concentrates from mills along Cement Creek to the smelters at Silverton. According to the Manual the railroad was chartered April 6, 1899 and completed in July. James Dyson located the route and the Rocky Mountain Construction Co., incorporated in Maine, constructed the 7.5 miles of line and the one-half mile of sidings from Silverton to Gladstone. Forty-five-pound rail was used. Track left

Mears hoped to run a railroad from Silverton to Mineral Point and possibly on to Lake City, following practically the same route as the wagon road he had built twelve years previously. C. W. Gibbs, chief engineer, made surveys from Silverton to Eureka in both 1889 and ’90 but nothing was immediately attempted, probably because of all effort and money going toward the construction of the Rio Grande Southern. However, two miles from Silverton to Waldheim were built in 1893 as an extension of the S

PLATE XXI. TRANS.AM.SOC.CIV.ENGRS. VOL. XXIII. N o. 450 GIBBS ON SILVERTON RAILROAD. Silverton RAILROAD 1888 The two levels of track at Chattanooga Loop. ( Violight Productions ) The first train to Red Mountain with Mears beside the engine pilot. ( Denver Public Library ) The Chattanooga Loop. ( C. W. Gibbs ) Passengers transferring from the train to the stage at Red Mountain. ( R. A. Ronzio ) The two levels of track approaching Corkscrew Gulch. (C. W. Gibbs ) Ironton and the turntable ( U. S. G