Pick 2 Locos for Posterity

[usairman737]

OK, so not posterity, but for the remaining life of an 80-year old would-be Sn3 modeler.  I've been planing to model the Clear Creek area since the early 60's on my first visit.  It has changed!  Then came the great Boulder Flood five years ago, and 5 feet of water on the models.  It looked worse then Central City with the flats in the street.  My collection of C&S equipment didn't fare will.  I had one each of every C&S loco Overland imported, carefully hand picked by good friend Mason Wood from Tom Marsh's stock, along with lots of rolling stock and cabeese kits.  All the brass' cardboard boxes were ruined, foam soaked black and decals floating free in the bags.  But to move forward.......

Due to lateness of age, I've decided to select two locos from the collection as runners on my Sn3 Clear Creek branch.  Restore them both and sell he rest.  No more major C&S layout, but a simple representation of the branch's freight hauling motive power post 1928 (passenger trains were  gone by then) to abandonment.   My first choice is easy, the oil-burning #71, but what is the other locomotive?  I could use some suggestions.

Gerry

[Jim Courtney]

I would suggest one of the two other Overland B-4-D's, besides the oil burning number 70, either 65 or 69.  It is ironic that number 60 was picked for display at Idaho Springs, as it spent most of its life as the Leadville switcher, may never have made a revenue run on Clear Creek after 1920.

The other Overland 2-8-0, B-4-E number 71, made occasional trips on Clear Creek but spent more time on the South Park division.

For a caboose, my first vote would be for 1003, as it was the most common of the Clear Creek cabooses.

Sorry to hear of your flood disaster. If you sell other Sn3 items, list them here first, on the "sticky" at the top of the forum.

[Mike Trent]

Hi, Gerry. you live in Boulder?

I would say that if you are looking for two clear Creek engines post 1928 to '37, I would choose the oil burning #70 and, if you have one, #69. I don't know if OMI imported a #65, but if they did, and Jim says they did, that would be a better choice. I know #65 spent a lot of time on the Clear Creek Branch with #70. The larger 2-8-0's were in "mainline service" to Leadville until abandonment in '37.

For a time in 1938-'39, #71 ran on the Clear Creek branch, without a plow.

#60 didn't run on the Clear Creek branch in those years after 1936 when it ended it's career as the Leadville switcher that I know of, but it too, could be a choice. Who's to say it didn't?

I wouldn't be surprised if a Mogul or two still strayed up on the Clear Creek branch in the late 20's and 30's.

Of course, for me, I'd keep #74 even as a display model. Boulder.

Tough call. In the end, you should choose whichever two you want to keep, and maybe not give too much thought to how historically pure you want your railroad to be.

Good luck.

[Chris Walker]

I wouldn't be surprised if a Mogul or two still strayed up on the Clear Creek branch in the late 20's and 30's.

Mike,  

the #9 was up the Creek in '37, Kindig picture on pg172 CRA#10.

[Mike Trent]

Thanks, Chris. Good to know.