C&S Narrow Gauge in Color

[Jim Courtney]

To avoid having South Park go into clinical withdrawal from lack of C&S narrow gauge posts, I thought that I would start this thread devoted to color photos of C&S trains (in actual operation, not preservation photos).

While rummaging through my files for the Gilpin drawings, I found this page from an old Sundance calendar:



Since I trimmed it from the calendar in order to (mis)file the photo, I can't tell you where it was taken, when (1940-41?) or who the photographer was.  Seems to me it is in Clear Creek, likely between Blackhawk and Forks.

So, if you have some good color photos of actual C&S narrow gauge trains or locomotives or rolling stock or structures, post them here, even if they were posted before in another thread.

[Keith Hayes]

The first three coals are Phase I's.

As you state,  this is in the vicinity of Forks Creek. I forget who the photographer is, but want to say it was Jack Thode or John Maxwell.

[Jim Courtney]

Here is one for Keith:



Morrison A. Smith photo in Digerness, The Mineral Belt, Volume I, page 337.

C&S number 75 takes water in Leadville on July 2, 1941. (Can you make S scale water come out of your Shapeways stand pipe?)


And a couple of not so happy color views for Jeff:





Both photos by John W Maxwell in Digerness, The Mineral Belt, Volume I, pages 136-137.

C&S number 69 and work train dismantle the Silica branch, including the removal of the bridge over the Highline Canal, on November 15, 1941.

[Jim Courtney]

Since Jeff's HOn3 version of the C&S is currently building in lower Platte Canyon, I thought these views might be appropriate.

On May 17, 1941, John Maxwell negotiated a cab ride on one of the last freights to South Platte, delivering empties for fluorspar loading. He was able to take these two "tender" views of the C&S narrow gauge in its last year:




In the afternoon, number 70 is drifting downgrade, Denver bound, and approaching Strontia Springs resort.  Look closely, Chris, your pipe still protrudes above the south embankment of the South Platte.  (http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Where-What-and-Why-A-Quiz-td3720.html#a3721)




That morning, number 70 was climbing westbound, approaching the second Deansbury bridge.

Both photos by John W Maxwell in Digerness, The Mineral Belt, Volume I, pages 136-137.

[Jeff Young]

Loving the colour pictures (even though I’ve seen most of them before).

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Jim Courtney]

Yeah Jeff,

Most everything I've found has been previously published, most in out of print books.  I got tired of trying to remember where each one was located, so thought I'd just put them all together here.

When I've scanned and resized the color images, I've been struck by the fuzzy quality of the images, not the sharp clarity of the black and white photo we usually discuss here, even the Otto Perry photos from the late teens and early twenties.

Then I remembered that all of these photos were taken in the year prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor!

Our photographers were using the earliest, mass-produced commercially available color film of the time (print film vs color transparencies?).  The very low ASA (boy, there is a term that has become obsolete in my lifetime) of those films likely required very fast shutter speeds to avoid even the slightest movement artifact and/or wide apertures which created depth of field problems. There was probably a learning curve involved for the rail-fan photographers of the day, who were used to faster panchromatic B&W film stock.

Anyone know what color film was available in 1940-1941?  An early version of Kodachrome? An AGFA product, perhaps? I don't think Ectachrome was marketed until the 1950s.

[ComoDepot]

AGFA, during WW2? I would have thought that was very unlikely.

[Chris Walker]

AGFA colour film dates from 1932, AGFA Ultra from 1934.

[Lee Gustafson]

1936 Kodak introduces Kodachrome 35mm still film and 8mm home movie film, with an ASA of 10.

1939Kodak introduces Kodachrome 35mm paper frame mounted slides.

Kodachrome film required Kodak processing which was included in the price of the film.

ASA 10 required long exposure times compared to black and white films of the same period.

Source; Boston University

Lee Gustafson

[Jim Courtney]

Back in February of 2015 there was a fantastic thread here on Forks Creek: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Proof-that-not-only-the-Eating-House-was-built-on-stilts-at-Forks-Creek-td948i20.html

Doug Heitkamp posted a number of color views of Forks c1941. I've taken the liberty of resizing them and reposting them here.

First, two overview images--the eating house is long gone and highway construction is underway:







C&S number 70 has arrived from Denver with a short train for Idaho Springs.  It has left its train on the siding just west of the wye, and has backed around the first two legs of the wye, taking water at the tank, the engine now facing east.




The tender full, number 70 pulls east to clear the wye switch, then backs across the iron bridge over Clear Creek, westbound but tender first.







The 70 reassembles its short train and will run westbound, tender first to Idaho Springs:




Departing Forks, number 70 and its 5 car train climb through the curving confines of Clear Creek Canon, somewhere to the west--the Floyd Hill area perhaps?


Photo posted by Doug Heitkamp: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Caboose-roof-color-td61.html

[Jim Courtney]

Two more color views for Keith.

Both photos by John Maxwell on May 30, 1941:




Some nice clutter on the platform--the depot bears a striking resemblance to an S scale model abuilding. Are those two lightning rods on the depot roof?




C&S 75 departs Leadville for Climax.  Note the standard gauge C&S boxcars to the right, near the turntable lead.

Both photos in Digerness, The Mineral Belt, Volume I, pages 333 and 340.

[Jim Courtney]

John Maxwell, like Otto Perry before him, took many a photo of C&S narrow gauge trains leaving Denver, for Clear Creek (at Arvada and Golden) or in the southwest outskirts of Denver, as trains headed for Platte Canon. By 1941, Maxwell was taking color as well as B&W photos.

On July 8, 1941, Maxwell followed C&S number 70 and a long train of empty coal cars and boxcars, heading for Platte Canon and destined for loading at Waterton, South Platte and the Silica Branch. (All photos from Digerness, The Mineral Belt Volume I, pages 110-133.)


Per caption, this photo was taken in the Ruby Hill district of suburban Denver, still on three-rail tracks:





The train was moving southwest along the old Platte Canon Road, south of Bowles Avenue:





West of Littleton:




The train stopped for number 70 to take water at the Bear Creek tank and bridge:








A similar train, on May 17, 1941 has stopped unexpectedly near Chatfield.  Per the caption, the train has stopped due to a derailed wheelset, back in the train:




Note to Roper: A few of these photos might be good enough for C&Sn3 Blog post header photos.

[Jim Courtney]

Back in February of 2015, Roper posted a "Snapshot Saturday" image of a C&S reefer in Leadville. http://coloradosouthern.blogspot.com/2015/02/ropers-snapshot-saturday-no36.html





This is the only color view of a C&S refrigerator that I have ever seen; thought it should hang out here for future reference.

[Jim Courtney]

Roper also posted this portrait of C&S 69 one Saturday in January, 2015. http://coloradosouthern.blogspot.com/2015/01/ropers-snapshot-saturday-no31.html




A very talented dog, that Roper!


Doug Heikamp posted this photo of C&S number 70, moving fast enough for the extra flags to fly--or perhaps into a head wind.
http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Love-me-tender-With-apologies-to-Elvis-td499i100.html




Finally, Darel, our moderator, used this photo as the header for the discussion forum for quite a while:




C&S 71, 8 and 69 move along the Blue River, on the last run from Dickey to Como.

[Jim Courtney]

Okay, so this view of the Dumont depot is post-abandonment, but it shows that the depot remained in the grey paint with green trim to the end.



Digerness, The Mineral Belt, Volume III, page 300.



The little store and garage at Lawson have nothing to do with C&S operations, but I've always been fascinated by all the colorful signs on the false front buildings.


Digerness, The Mineral Belt, Volume III, page 221.

[Jeff Young]

Kokomo schoolhouse:

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/84157/rec/16

[Jim Courtney]

Great photo, Jeff.

I've never noticed this color image in DPL before.

I've scanned and posted all the color photographs from my book collection, and from previous posts to this forum--the low hanging fruit as it were.

Here's hoping new color views show up and other's post what they have. If you add a new photo, please edit the title line to include the new location or description (i.e. "Clear Creek" or "Leadville" or "Silica"), so Forum searches will locate them.

Jim

[Chris Walker]

Jim,

your Title picture appears to best fit with here above the Forks... looking at the rocks on the ridge, far side of the creek above the second coalcar.  This was the best fit I could get.

[Jim Courtney]

Okay, so I have emptied out my filing cabinet and I'm refiling every thing, one piece at a time.

Look what I found this morning:






Again, an old detached page from a Sundance calendar, sans label, attribution, date, etc.  While we wait for Chris to locate the scene on a map and provide us with GPS coordinates, let's guess:  

I'm guessing the year to be 1941, photographer to be John Maxwell, location somewhere between Floyd Hill and Idaho Springs, with number 69 leading an eastbound scrapping train.  

[South Park]

  I AM going into clinic withdrawal and need a strong dose of historical photos and
commentary.  I am counting on youzalls to save me !