C & S High Line Enginemen – 1930 to 1937

[Jim McKee]

I have done some research on the enginemen who ran trains on the Como – Leadville High Line.  The data below is from the 1930-1937 period.  During this period, traffic on this line was fairly light, and therefore the seniority board was quite small, when compared to the seniority listing for the D&RGW Alamosa – Durango line.  For those with a strong interest in the South Park, a lot of the names on the list will recognizable. List below is in order of seniority.  Personal information is from the 1930 US census, which was conducted in Park and Lake Counties in April 1930.  Location in 1940 is from the 1940 US census, conducted in April 1940.  Location in 1950 is from the 1950 US census.  List includes engineers & firemen working on the C&S “High Line” (Como – Leadville) on or after January 1, 1930.  Ages at time of the 1930 census are in parenthesis.  This list was also posted to the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum.

Gallagher, William E. (Bill) (65) Engineer date 8/20/1896. 919 Poplar St., Leadville (Note 1), married 32 years to Mary (58), no children living at home.  Died 12/23/1932. Buried in Como, CO.  See Note 2.

Colligan, Patrick F. (Curly) (62) Engineer date 12/22/1897. 14 Broadway, Como, married 28 years to Nellie (56), no children living at home.  Como in 1940.  Died 9/11/41, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO
                                                           
Parlin, Walter S. (57) Engineer date 10/26/1899. 1119 Poplar St., Leadville (Note 1), married 28 years to Sadie (45), no children living at home.  Died in Denver hospital 3/6/31, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO.  Still employed by the C&S at the time of his illness and subsequent death.

Thomas, Robert H. (Bob) (44) Engineer date 4/14/1909. 405 East Tenth St., Leadville (Note 1), married 11 years to Eva (37), one child living at home.  Leadville in 1940 as engineer.  Leadville in 1950, not working.  Died 1956, buried in Leadville, CO

Thomas, Charles H. (47) Engineer date 10/7/1909. Como, shows married, but wife not listed as living in Como.  218 West 3rd St., Leadville (Note 1) in 1940, no occupation identified (listed as married to Eva (28), with 3 children living at home).  Died 12/25/52, buried in Canon City, CO

Williamson, Charles W. (47) Engineer date 9/16/17. 231 East Eighth St., Leadville (Note 1), married 20 years to Hazel (39), one child living at home.  Died in the last major derailment on the High Line on 1/21/1936, buried in Leadville, CO

Anderson, Albin A. (Brownie) (42) Engineer date 1/20/18. Como, married 13 years to Nellie (32), 2 children living at home.  416 East 7th St., Leadville (Note 1) in 1940.  2710 Umatilla St., Denver in 1950, working as locomotive fireman.  Died 3/17/68, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO

Gibbony, Thomas (36) Engineer date 12/28/20. Pine St., Como, married 10 years to Anna (35), 2 children living at home.  Como in 1940 as section hand.  Died 2/73, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO

Delaney, Joseph B. (37) Engineer date 3/14/27. Como, married 10 years to Gertrude (30), no children living at home.  Como in 1940 as railroad engineer.  Denver in 1950 as railroad fireman.  Died 7/18/53, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO

Oshier, John B. (Bon) (44) Engineer date 2/24/36. Como, married 20 years to Nellie (40), 3 children living at home.  Denver in 1940 as railroad engineer.  Died 1/71, buried in Denver, CO

Marinelli, Peter L. (33) Engineer date 7/14/36. Pine St., Como, married 6 years to Daisy (29), one child living at home.  Como in 1940 as locomotive fireman.  Boulder, CO in 1950 as coal miner.  Died 1960, buried in Denver, CO
 
Johnson, Arthur R. (35) Engineer date 7/16/36. Buffalo Springs, married 7 years to Eila, 2 children living at home.  Fairplay in 1940 and 1950 as garage (auto repair) owner.  Died 1964, buried in Canon City, CO

Gibbony, William W., (32)  Not on 1930 Census, U.S. Veterans records show died 3/2/1938.

Hallock, Guy (48), 419 E. 9th St., Leadville, married to Lillie (47), no children living at home.  Como in 1940 as mine laborer.  Died 8/19/58, buried in Como, CO

Robinson, Howard N. (36), married to Vera (34), one child living at home.  Jefferson in 1940.  Died 2/17/61, buried in Bailey, CO

Schnurbusch, Douglas M. (29), Tarryall, married 5 years to Margaret, 3 children living at home.  Como in 1940 as locomotive fireman.  Denver in 1950 as a rubber company press operator.  Died 1996, buried in Littleton, CO

Eshe, Clinton F. (23) Engineer date 7/16/36. Como, single.  Denver in 1940.  Died 1996, buried in Park County, CO

Gibbony, Emmet R. (24), Rowe St., Como, single.  Como in 1940 as locomotive fireman.  Died 4/6/41, buried in Como, CO
 
Schnurbusch, Robert B. (26), Tarryall, married 1 year to Esther, 1 child living at home.  ? in 1940.  Denver in 1950 as locomotive engineer.  Died 1981, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO
 
McGlochlin, Roy (21), Lakeside, single. ? in 1940.  Died 10/3/83, buried in Cedaredge, CO

Eshe, Ernest L. (19), Como, single.  ? in 1940.  Died 8/30/70, buried in Wheat Ridge, CO

Greenwell, Edward L. (18), Jefferson, single.  ? in 1940.  Died 5/1991.

Note 1 – House still standing.

Note 2 – Gallagher was found deceased in his cabin in Como on the morning of December 23, 1932 (Friday), where he laid over between runs, as his home terminal was Leadville.  He had brought the eastbound passenger train into Como the previous day.  The Fairplay newspaper reported his death that very day, as apparently they had been notified of his death before the paper went to print.  The notice and obituary are included below:

[Mike Trent]

Thank you for this, Jim!

[Chris Walker]

Seconded!

Glad Jim was able to bring this info over here, I always appreciate the service details of Enginemen.
 
40 years ago this week, I ceased to be an Assistant(4 years with Driver's Cert.) and the following Monday, transferred to my new Depot and a driving position.