Fun with Hancock

[Robert McFarland]

Could you guys please do with Hancock what you've been doing with Forks Creek?

[Todd Hackett]

Robert McFarland wrote

Could you guys please do with Hancock what you've been doing with Forks Creek?

There are a lot more photos available from Forks Creek than Hancock. The Alpine Tunnel didn't stay open very far into the era when photography was easy, and Hancock was a lot farther from any population center. These are the only photos I have:

This Collier view was probably taken in 1883. I think it's been published, but it is one of the few photos I've seen where locomotives have received Congdon stacks but have not yet been fitted with air pumps. The front loco appears to be a Brooks mogul. My guess is #30 because the second digit is visible on the sand dome and appears to be a "0" and the tender is clearly lettered for DSP&P, and #30 was the only Brooks mogul listed for the DSP&P that originally had a number ending in zero (and the photo pre-dates the 1885 renumbering). The second photo looks like a Baldwin 2-8-0, but I don't know which. The Tiffany is no. 1059, and the boxcar behind it looks to have an 8xx number.


This Clinton Scott view is probably from the 1890's. It has been published by the DSP&PHS in either The Bogies and the Loop or one of their calendars (or maybe both). I think I've also put enlargements from it on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum in the past. The flanger is lettered D.L.UG. and its number ends with a "3." The business car is 025, and the rear loco is #265.

[Chris Walker]

Todd's first photo is here, the first loco is DSP&P 36, visible in headlight glass, rear is ending in a 0.
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/41771/rv/singleitem/rec/10
the enlargement capacity holds some interesting details, those of the carpenters toolchest at the handcar set-out, steps at back of the Hancock Depot, prefabricated box-culverts and also of the rope securing the brakebeam on the Waycar.

[Chris Walker]

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/6598/rv/singleitem/rec/7

[Robert McFarland]

Any ideas about the extensions on the flat car brake beams?

[Robert McFarland]

There is a companion photo of  the wye at this location including what looks like a section house in P.R. Griswold's Alpine Tunnel book.

[Chris Walker]

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/3853/rv/singleitem

[Chris Walker]

Digerness states(I know he has been wrong on occasions) in Min Belt 2 that the Mine Supt. lived in the two-storey house, the powerhouse and bunkhouse were inside the wye there.  Pg 308.

[Derrell Poole]

Probably Hancock as the Railhead while the tunnel was under Construction (1881?). Note the "Romley" depot...


George Mellon Photo - 1888. Not so gritty as a Clear Creek location...


Close up of Mellon photo. I believe the tank is visible beyond the two locomotives.

[Robert McFarland]

Check out the stock racks on the coal car in the depot photo.I believe that the double header in the siding to the left shows up in the photo on p44 of DSP&P Pictorial with Baldwin #56 and Mason#9"Kenosha".One other noticeable thing in the photo is the extremely tall telegraph pole-there is another one like it in photos of the Dome Rock  depot.


Three other photos I would like to call attention to.One is below the p44 Memorial picture and also on p77 of CRA#12  showing a Baldwin stopped at the Hancock depot .The second I believe is in MB2 (I no longer have the book) and is similar to the first picture except it shows a coaling dock.The third is on the Kiersey site showing the depot business/construction car and Baldwin. What I want to call attention to are buildings that are almost out of sight behind the depot,water tank,bridge,and mine superintendent's house.

[Chris Walker]

Hancock's Watertank foundation remains...

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/3859/rv/singleitem/rec/4

[Chris Walker]

Just up the Hill out of Hancock!


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll21/id/4080/rv/singleitem

[Jeff Young]

Any idea what we’re looking at there?

Clearly it’s some sort of drain, but the ice at the end suggests a pipe, rather than a wood box.  (Either that, or the box has a bottom, but that doesn’t really make any sense.)

Sure looks square on top and round on the bottom….

[Chris Walker]

You were paying attention,  {:))   Yes a woodenbox just like a flume to get the water away from the roadbed.

[Jeff Young]

Hm, yes, I suppose the (presumably) bottom-less ones are lower down below track level, where they are already longer and don’t present washout issues.

I’m beginning to suspect, though, that there as many wood box designs are there are wood boxes.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Ken Martin]

I have the stereocard the depot shot is from. It was taken by J. R. Riddle of Topeka, KS as is the picture at the top so I assume (dangerous) they were taken the same day. On the back of the card is a list of other stations in Colorado but I only know of these two pictures. Does anyone know of any other photos by J.R. Riddle? Or where his negative collection might be?

[Mallory Hope Ferrell]

Ref Hancock scene: I have a print made from the original glass negative of the double headed DSP&P train passing eastbound freight (with Tiffany Reefer 1059 and caboose 64). The lead engine is #36, a Brooks 2-6-0 and she is followed by Baldwin 2-8-0 #50. It is a Joseph Collier photograph and is dated 1884. Both engines still sport Eames Vacuum brakes and Congdon stacks. Within a year the Eames Brakes will be replaced with Westinghouse Air Brakes and air pumps will be added to engineer's side. (a double page spread of this view is on pgs. 88-89 of THE SOUTH PARK LINE book)

The Hancock Depot snow scene with two locos on siding near the depot was made in the winter of 1881-82. It shows a Mason Bogie and a 2-8-0.  Coal cars are being unloaded on the mainline (background) and freight cars and caboose occupy the other siding. A companion photo, taken the same day, shows that the 2-8-0 is #56 and the Bogie is #9. Both locomotives have Nesmith stacks. Both of these pictures also appear in The SPL. (p.84, p.86)