Platte Canon Extras

[John McCutcheon]

In looking at Tom Klinger's book Platte Canon Memories I began to wonder if runs to Waterton, South Platte, Stone Spur, Argyle, Crystal Lake, Haviland, Maddox and Altruria were run as extras. This might also include the Blackhawk Branch as well. The other question would be how often were extra run. Would there be an extra out most days in addition to thru freights or could there be multi extras. Each location is different especially considering the time of year. I don't believe Tom gave a time period when ice harvest time lasted but I would guess it was between Dec to March. One other item of note was the mine prop business, would trains be run as extras to pick up these items.

John McCutcheon

[Mike Trent]

Hi, John. As Rick has discussed previously, in the fashion of all Class 1 railroads, all trains not scheduled, which on the C&Sng was everything except Passenger trains were run as "Extra". There were scheduled freight runs on the Standard gauge but they were all through freights and did no switching. All local freights were run as Extra.

In later days, #70 was run extra as needed to Waterton, and possibly further, as long as it had enough oil to return. Perry and Kindig and others caught what they could of those extras and there are quite a few pictures. Even trains running West of Golden were run as extra.

[Chris Walker]

Indeed Mike,
the CRRA #10 Narrow Gauge to Central & Silver Plume has a number of transcribed Orders relating to operations on the Clear Creek lines.

Even the one that inspired Harry Brunk and subsequently Art Gibson to share in the NG&SL Gazette about the Georgetown Stock Extra. see: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Freight-trains-at-Dillon-or-Keystone-tp1868p2525.html

example from pg174:
Saturday, March 6: RUN CLEAR CREEK
LOCAL SIX AM ONE ENGINE WITH
LOADS FOR BLACK HAWK 1 MTY FLAT
FOR FLOYD HILL AND FILL ON COAL
FOR IDAHO SPRINGS TO 150 TONS.
LOCAL GO TO BLACK HAWK THEN TO
IDAHO SPRINGS.

[John McCutcheon]

Mike

My question is more how many extras might be out on the line in a given day. I am guessing that on some days you might have a thru freight to Como, a second train to the ice ponds and maybe a local to Waterton. Was this possible ?

[Mike Trent]

John, the Extra freights would have to be worked with available motive power.  Near the end of Mainline operations, it became increasingly difficult to keep some of the old hogs out on the line. Especially with wrecks and roundhouse fires nipping at their heels. It's amazing they were able to keep as many as they did active.

[Mike Trent]

The Denver-Leadville freights ran to Como from Denver and Leadville on the same days, at least twice a week.  That could tie up as many as 8 locomotives for four days just on those four trains. With one engine on the passenger, and another set out in Como for emergency at Como, that required 10 engines for four days. That was a pretty big bite out of the roster. But they managed to run West of Golden twice a week.

[ComoDepot]

John McCutcheon wrote

In looking at Tom Klinger's book Platte Canon Memories I began to wonder if runs to Waterton, South Platte, Stone Spur, Argyle, Crystal Lake, Haviland, Maddox and Altruria were run as extras. This might also include the Blackhawk Branch as well. The other question would be how often were extra run. Would there be an extra out most days in addition to thru freights or could there be multi extras. Each location is different especially considering the time of year. I don't believe Tom gave a time period when ice harvest time lasted but I would guess it was between Dec to March. One other item of note was the mine prop business, would trains be run as extras to pick up these items.

John McCutcheon

Well depends on the winter, there were some winters too warm for ice production in the Canon. December would be very early, February March would be most likely, hence the term Rush?