In Memory of Doug Heitkamp: Riverview, April, 1902

[Jim Courtney]

Our friend, Doug Heitkamp, passed away two years ago today.

I recently was forced to buy a new computer in order to run Windows 11. While transferring and organizing my C&S photo files, I ran across a wonderful photo that Doug sent to me almost 10 years ago.  Doug asked that I not share the photo or post it on the internet. Doug never explained why and I never asked.

At this point, I think that Doug would approve of posting this gift of a photo for all of his friends here at the Discussion Forum to enjoy.

The photo is panoramic view of the wreck at the Riverview Tank in April of 1902:




And here is the full 600 dbi photo that Doug sent me a decade ago:




One could spend hours here, slowly studying the details (ask me how I know).

We miss you, Doug . . .

[Mike Trent]

Thank you, Jim, for the photo and for the reminder. Can it really be two years?

RIP, Doug. RIP.

[Southpark]

So what is more to this image?  Am I correct in an EB?  Broken rail maybe?  Looks like a load in the gon at the tank, ore maybe.  Call Pat Gibbony's crew out of Como!  That is a dandy to say the least.  With one photo one hast to wonder if there was another.  The Greens were noted for photos around Buffalo.  Thanks.  Tom Klinger

[Chris Walker]

Doug posted a shortened view of this 1902 wreck here http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Riverview-Tank-Supports-tp14278.html
I'm pretty certain Derrell Poole had used this image, maybe in the Blog?
A companion photo is in the C&S rolling stock Narrow Gauge Pictorial.  

If I was to hazard a quess on the derail cause: note there are an aweful lot of Ties laid out upgrade, of no use for re-railing blocking in that amount and placement, thusly indicating a resleepering site that may have played a part; or perhaps during the restarting of the train after taking water at the Tank.

The lettering array on the 8039 doesn't show up in pictures very often; lack of a Caboose present says this is a clean-up well under way, note the pile of baled Hay on the far side of the 8039.

Thanks  Jim for this posting,

Yes RIP Doug; he's missed down here too.

[Keith Hayes]

A very interesting image indeed!

Chris, you make a good point. The waycar is gon, and the road loco too, likely. Either Pat Gibbony is on site, or his counterpart from Denver. The locomotive on the right is using a couple cars as idlers. You can see the long cable going to a shive at the top of the hillside, and this has been used to right the first refer. The shive is tied to a tree uphill used as a deadman.

Note the pile of trucks? I think a photo of the second refer is in the NG pictorial, but the caption indicates the wreck is on Boreas or somewhere west, not Riverview.

The locomotive on the left seems to be grabbing cars to move them to the next siding up river--maybe Buffalo?

The current issue of the Gazette has drawings with several of these lettering styles, how timely!

I too miss Doug, though I only met him a couple of times.

POST NO BILLS!

[Southpark]

A revisit and I realized that this derailment is mentioned, with another photo in C&S Platte Canon Memories, page 93, with data from the Golden Globe newspaper.  This second photo looks to show a caboose off to the right.  I must admit that I missed that cable going up the hill to the tree.  Besides the Greens someone could have been from Buffalo Creek which is across the Platte from Buffalo, the station name, on the railroad. All interesting for sure.  Tom Klinger

[Jim Courtney]

Here is the photo Tom just mentioned from his Platte Canon Memories book:




Looks like a westbound freight with center-cupola caboose didn't hear about the wreck in time to stop at the next siding downstream. This appears to be shortly after the derailment, as the Denver bound train's locomotive is still on the head end.

Two more photos from the Narrow Gauge Pictorial Freight Car book:






It isn't clear how many of the folks standing about are railroad workers, trying to salvage the contents of the wrecked box cars and reefers, and how many are local gawkers.

One detail in the panoramic view that puzzles me, is the pile of UP 14-ton trucks on the riverbank, between the tracks and the water.  This suggests to me that the train was moving down grade at a good clip, not having stopped for water. Once the first derailed truck hit the ground, the reefer and boxcar bodies continued to travel toward Denver, while each successive truck piled up with all the others.

Chris, could this happen?

[Southpark]

At Riverside there was a spur, in these views did I miss it.  When was that put in?  Near where the tank is, is the the location where Buffalo Creek, the stream, enters the Platte.  Spring time, could an ice dam formed and there was a wash out of the grade?  I can't tell what is along the log fence line on the bottom what is on the ground.  Is that "dirty ice" ( this being frozen water)?  Hey, we will solve this derailment!  Tom Klinger

[Southpark]

Too bad all of us are missing some memory.  On a different mission I  came across 4 photos in Ferrell's, The
South Park Line page 296-297 by chance that answer many of our questions.  Thanks for the "Memories"  Doug.  Tom Klinger