DL&G rosters in the OREG/ORER

[Dave Eggleston]

I've been looking at roster evolution for the UPD&G and DL&G. One source is the OREG/ORER; I have a single issue for each year 1890-1898 and 1901 and 1903. One problem is the sudden disappearance of the DL&G after 1894. After this time the D&LG is only mentioned as a connecting railway and no rosters are listed. I believe the DL&G was an independently operated UPD&G subsidiary but am perplexed at why it just disappears completely from the OREG/ORER, not even listed under the UPD&G, as cars were running with DL&G markings.

The next ORER clue on the DL&G is Sept 1901 ORER listing the C&S car renumbering scheme.



I have a few questions:
1- Does anyone know if the DL&G was ever listed in the OREG/ORER 1895 - 1898, and, if not, theories on why it wasn’t? What am I missing here?
2- Lacking the 1899, 1900 and 1902 ORER I don’t know what the C&S page for each of these years lists. Does anyone have this page they would share?
3- The renumbering appears to have run from January 1899 through some time in 1902. Is there any knowledge about when it was completed in 1902? Or how many cars were repainted each year? I know I may be grabbing at straws here.


Thanks!

[Ron Rudnick]

As you guessed there are no DL&G rosters from the mid 1890's until the C&S page appears, February, 1899.
I also have Oct, 1899, Sept,1901, Dec 1902 which I can send you
The one that you have is missing is a standard gauge listing for the DL&G charcoal cars which were renumbered to C&S standard gauge #979-997

[Robert McFarland]

Wasn't the DL&G completely independent of UP during that period?

[Dave Eggleston]

Ron, good to hear from you. I feared the response would be what you gave; I'd hoped that something further had been discovered since your 1997 Modeler's Guides (I can't believe that's 20 years I picked them up), something I'd overlooked. It's such an oddity/mystery the DL&G and its cars aren't listed for those 4 years. Thankfully the C&S provided some insight in the 1899-1902 ORER for those of us looking at the very early C&S as a modeling project.

Thanks for your generous offer of those pages. What's the best way to share for you?

[Dave Eggleston]

Robert, all I can say is that I've read that the DL&G became a subsidiary of the UPD&G but operated independently for all intents and purposes. What exactly that means seems pretty open to interpretation.

[Keith Hayes]

Dave, I have never ventured into the OREG/ORER (Official Railway Equipment Guide/ Official Railway Equipment Register, I think for those not in the know). As the UPD&G/ DL&G were part of the UP at this time, is it possible that the equipment is listed under the UP.

Also, what contemporary purpose did this guide serve? It seems odd that someone would compile such a reference of other peoples business? Is there a similar guide for containers, or tractor trailers, ships or planes today? Just curious.

[Dave Eggleston]

Keith,
The UPD&G and DL&G were in receivership during 1895-1898, so not under the UP umbrella and not listed as such. The UPD&G has its own listing in these years while the DL&G doesn't. I'd expect at a minimum the DL&G to be listed under the UPD&G or, alternatively, to have its own listing. But neither is the case, it just isn't in the Guides/Registers.

Others more knowledgeable will have to comment in depth on the contemporary use of the Guides, but I believe they were used by other railroads and shippers to identify cars, either on property or for shipments, as well as contacts and connection points. These aren't the only guides in existence that listed railroad information including stock. Moody's and Poors' Guide likewise gave information though often not as detailed.

[Todd Hackett]

degg13 wrote

...I believe they were used by other railroads and shippers to identify cars...

The lack of interchange may be the reason. When the DL&G was still associated with the UP, the UP may have reported all of their subsidiary's equipment. By this time, the D&RG was standard gauge in areas where they were near the DL&G, so the only likely use of DL&G cars elsewhere would be on the UPD&G, and the UPD&G probably didn't need a national register to know which narrow gauge cars came from the DL&G. The UPD&G would still be reporting because most of their equipment was standard gauge equipment in interchange service.

[Dave Eggleston]

That's a very interesting idea. Looking for the Nevada Central and Eureka & Palisades in the 1895 edition, both 3' lines that only interchanged with the SP in Nevada, and found nothing. I think we've maybe hit the reason! It would be good to learn what the deeper use of these Guides was at the time to confirm this.

[Ron Rudnick]

Both of the companies were put under the receivership of Trumbow.  The D&LG came after the UPD&G, by which time the UPD&G had already made up and had printed their sg and ng roster.  It might be that going back and redoing the UPD&G roster by adding the DL&G roster, was an unneeded expense, a poor second cousin.  

[Ron Rudnick]

No NC or E&P, nor NCNG, N-C-O, or DB&W entries
But surprise, the Uintah, Sumpter Valley, and even the Sandy River & Rangely Lakes have entries

 

[Ron Rudnick]

Keith the UPD&G and DL&G were listed under the Union Pacific pages until they went into receiverships

[Ron Rudnick]

Keith:  Over the years the UP had listings for the Utah & Eastern, Echo & Park City, DSP&P, CC, U&N, KC, Utah & Nevada, Cascade Portage, Mill Creek Flume & Manufacturing and even the South Park & Leadville Short Line along with the UPD&G and DL&G up until August, 1894.   By November the only ng lines left and the OSL&UN, the KC and the E&PC

[Dave Eggleston]

Ron, my email is [e-mail].