Going through some pictures and ran across a picture that gives a unique view of the engineer' side interior. The operators at that time of the Black Hills Central had butchered her up pretty bad. This is above Silver Plume in August of 1989.
I don't understand why they torched the throttle rod and the bell hanger and took the bell. I don't see the throttle up there, either, as well as torching the injectors and boiler checks.
Bill Heckman (Late owner of the Black Hills Central) was out to just play dirty because Colorado requested and got the locomotive. He had been robbing parts off of it for years and tried to get title by adverse possession. When that failed, he attempted to destroy it.
A butcher for sure! It wasn't just the 9 that was a victim and a gas ax was always the tool of choice. It is amazing how the folks who own the Black Hills Central now have built a very class act. I went and watched the C&S stuff get trucked away. Was nice to see it go to where it would be taken care of. I sure wish the passenger cars were more accessible though. Even the D&RGW 64 RPO is alive and well on the D&S after escaping from Heckman.
Hello all,
Now for your enjoyment here are a few photos of the C&S #9 when she was running during that one fateful season on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Cheers, Jerome
c&s_#9_camio_shot.jpg
Your welcome and it was quite the fun outing that day. It was a dream for me to ride behind a C&S engine and it will probably not happen again in my lifetime. Cheers,
Jerome