Here is a photo from your era, Keith:
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/42512/rec/15Otto Perry caught an inbound train off the South Park, outside of Denver. Four gons of mine props in a mixed consist of gons with props, a couple of boxcars and a cut of stock cars. I always assumed the mine props from Platte Canon were shipped west to Climax or Leadville--maybe these cars are consigned to a Clear Creek destination.
And here is a 1929 photo of newly repainted phase 1 (1902) gon 4350 with a similar load at Grant in January, 1929:
In the Klingers'
C&S Platte Canon Memories . . .Because of the date, I think this is one of many Denver Water Board Special photos, taken the same day at Grant, to document then current railroad business (such as it was).
Here are two others, also from the Klingers' book, same collection, same date:
Looks like boxcars were also used to transport mine props. The third boxcar seems to be loading itself!
Would make another interesting load -- a boxcar, both doors open, with the visible ends of the mine props visible in both ends of the car.
A view of the east end of the Grant siding (left) and house track with loading platform (right). There are great piles of mine props lying about, sorted by different lengths.
Looks like you might need a bigger bag of skewers, Keith.
Jim Courtney
Poulsbo, WA