Leadville Coal Sheds

[Keith Hayes]

The roundhouse leads at Leadville had several long coal sheds. In fact, studying valuation maps, coal sheds were common everywhere along the C&S,  but especially in lofty Leadville.

It would be a grave error on my part yo not model these long structures. More than one of you has commented on my decision to maintain the windows behind the layout. I like the daylight when I am working on the railroad. This shed will help conceal the backdrop below the windows.

A sand house and second,  much smaller coal shed will comple the scene. Combined the three structures will be over 36" long.

[Mike Trent]

Looks great, Keith! At Dickey, they still had the old South Park open platforms all the way to the end. I think they hoarded coal in them in case of strikes. I plan to have at least part of one of them at Dickey near the ramp to the Coal Dock.

At Durango, there was a small Coal shed across from the depot which held Coal for the station and was also used to supply Coal in buckets for coaches and the adjacent yardmaster's office. These were just South of the old Ice House. Maybe the small shed at Leadville served a similar purpose.

[Keith Hayes]

That was the purpose of the shed down by the depot: wayward supplies. I suspect the sheds at Leadville to hoard coal, and they were covered to keep it out of the snow. Also, Leadville was at one time the largest city in Colorado, and being so populus, probably had a percentage of folks who needed coal and couldn't pay for it.