Pitkin City & Como - Could use some help

[CBryars2]

Hi,

Can anyone help me with the Pitkin city map and any pictures of the coaling facilities (I think there was a coaling chute).  Also any pictures of the Como coaling facilities?

Thanks Cameron

[Jeff Young]

I've found photos of Pitkin pretty slim on the ground.

Como is a bit more photographed.  Roundhouse to left; coaling dock to right:


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/43672/rec/40

Cheers,
Jeff.

[CBryars2]

Thanks, Good looking structure would add to my Como plans.  Was Pitkin similar?

Cameron

---

From: Jeff Young [via C&Sn3 Discussion Forum] <[hidden email]>
To: CBryars2 <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: Pitkin City & Como - Could use some help

I've found photos of Pitkin pretty slim on the ground.

Como is a bit more photographed.  Roundhouse to left; coaling dock to right:


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/43672/rec/40

Cheers,
Jeff.

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NAML

[Jeff Young]

> Was Pitkin similar?

As I understand it, the Pitkin and Como coal docks weren't that similar.  More info (and a couple more pictures of Como) from Todd Hackett here:

http://www.railwayeng.com/dspp/dsppics.htm

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Jim Courtney]

Hey Cameron,

A couple of more DPL photos of Pitkin:

The Depot in late 1930s.


<ahref="http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/43692/rec/696</a>


View of Pitkin, c1902, looking North.  The coal chute was built by the new C&S in 1901-1902.


<ahref="http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/10179/rec/753"</a>


A left enlargement shows coal chute to the left, road engine just to left of Depot (center) and a helper (maybe two?) in front of the combine at the right frame, whistling off.




A right enlargement shows the water tank at the South end of the yard.  It still has its enclosed lower post structure.




Joel Crea plans of the coal chute were published back in the 1970s in the old Slim Gauge News.  I will try to find the issue.  Copies sometimes show up on ebay.

[CBryars2]

Thanks, used the link and found plans in old Elwood & Crea structures book.  also in Dec 1987 a picture on the dock in Hancock I believe.

Making progress!

Thanks Cameron

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From: Jeff Young [via C&Sn3 Discussion Forum] <[hidden email]>
To: CBryars2 <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 1:19 PM
Subject: Re: Pitkin City & Como - Could use some help

> Was Pitkin similar?

As I understand it, the Pitkin and Como coal docks weren't that similar.  More info (and a couple more pictures of Como) from Todd Hackett here:

http://www.railwayeng.com/dspp/dsppics.htm

Cheers,
Jeff.

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NAML

[Jeff Young]

Nice find, Jim.

Any idea what mill that is on the far left?

[CBryars2]

Excellent find, shows relationship well.  If I am oriented correctly going left is towards Alpine tunnel?

Thanks Cameron

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From: Jim Courtney [via C&Sn3 Discussion Forum] <[hidden email]>
To: CBryars2 <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: Pitkin City & Como - Could use some help

Hey Cameron,

A couple of more DPL photos of Pitkin:

The Depot in late 1930s.


<ahref="http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/43692/rec/696</a>


View of Pitkin, c1902, looking North.  The coal chute was built by the new C&S in 1901-1902.


<ahref="http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/10179/rec/753"</a>


A left enlargement shows coal chute to the left, road engine just to left of Depot (center) and a helper (maybe two?) in front of the combine at the right frame, whistling off.




A right enlargement shows the water tank at the South end of the yard.  It still has its enclosed lower post structure.




Joel Crea plans of the coal chute were published back in the 1970s in the old Slim Gauge News.  I will try to find the issue.  Copies sometimes show up on ebay.

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[CBryars2]

Thanks for all the input.  Hit pay dirt.  Found picture in Gazette mentioned, and then able to find Joe's plans in structures book by Joe Crea.  With the pictures showing orientation and Mike Blazek's Como folio the picture is much clearer.  May start a build of Pitkin coaling dock in near future.

You guys are so helpful!

Thanks Cameron.

[Chris Walker]

According to L.C.McClure: the Jewel Mines & Reduction Co.   They had a siding that hooked around from the Mainline on the otherside of the valley.



http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/33895/rec/1


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll21/id/11068/rv/singleitem/rec/108

And an enlargement of the Depot area for Cameron to chew on....

[Jim Courtney]

Jeff,

The Klinger's Gunnison Division Memories . . .  has a good picture of the mill in a Dr. C. H. Scott photo on page 238.  The text only refers to the "Pitkin Mill".

[Chris Walker]

Jim, that is pretty common to find that Mill's were just known by location, the real name being of no interest supposedly to the Photographer or Recorder.  Not many bothered to find out either, some even calling it by names of nearby mines due to lack of information.  This leads to some frustrating wild-goose chase and in other cases opens up a whole new area to explore.


The Jewell Mill shows up behind the Hotel in this view of Main St.


http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/8431/rv/singleitem/rec/4


The most well known Mill of the Pitkin area was actually up Gold Creek from Ohio City(West of Pitkin).  There was no connection by the D.S.P.&P./C&S unlike the Jewell at Pitkin.


Gold Links Mill

http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll21/id/10756/rv/singleitem/rec/27


http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/6262/rv/singleitem/rec/13


The Depot in 1943 looking more like some old Farmhouse.


http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/43692/rv/singleitem/rec/11

[Todd Hackett]

CBryars2 wrote

...Can anyone help me with the Pitkin city map and any pictures of the coaling facilities (I think there was a coaling chute).  Also any pictures of the Como coaling facilities?

As others have noted, the coaling facilities were very different. The coal chute at Pitkin has bins similar to the other C&S narrow gauge coal chutes except Como, but has piles with round posts instead of the trestle bents with square timbers on all of the other C&S NG chutes. The Como coal dock has a different style of bins from a different manufacturer, and is the only coal chute on the C&S narrow gauge with walls and a roof to enclose the track.

Here is a map of Pitkin based on the ICC maps from 1917:


And this shows that map superimposed over a modern aerial photo:

[CBryars2]

Wow, this is great thanks so much.  The info on the bents will help make this more accurate.  Hope to begin building in the next 6-8 weeks.  The map overlay really helps, we were in Pitkin last year so I can match up my photos with this.  

Thanks Cameron

[Chris Walker]

[Chris Walker]

Another distant view of the Mill at Pitkin.  

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Pandora Mine label(DPL Title: Jewel Mill, MCC-4220) was added by Jones & Jones for their book, Photo By McClure as that image has a caption that refers to the location as being Pandora(near Telluride)on the RGS and does not mention Pitkin at all.

I've said elsewhere that the Mining game was boom and bust, Mill's were built, operated and onsold, refurbished and often known locally or refered to, by name of the Mill manager.  Some Mining companies also rushed in and built Mills that actually never treated any ore on a/c the mines didn't produce any quantity, were a complete speculation or investor luring scam, or that the Mill was unable to process the ores at that time with the available process and equipment.

[South Park]

  These four Hemingray "bullets" were found along the
old South Park Line.  The two grey/purple examples were
found at Parlins, the grey example between them was used
on the Leadville freight depot, and the piece at right was
found in the rocks, downgrade from the Palisades.  It is
possible that the two grey/purple examples are not actual
DSP&P pieces, as other lines were run through there, but
the original line was built from Denver to Gunnison using
Hemingray "bullets", so it is possible.  The line over Alpine
Pass was a single wire affair, as evidenced by the close pole
in the above shot.  The phone line in the background also ran
down the Tomichi to Parlins and Gunnison, but is newer than
the railroad telegraph, completed in 1880.