Rotary in Black Hawk

[Todd Hackett]

The first two photos were fairly recent acquisitions (thanks to Chris Walker for helping to ID locations), and the third is one I've had for a while, but is probably from the same event. These are probably from December 1913, I don't think the rotary made it up to Central City often.

Approaching the switchback above Black Hawk, facing NNW up North Clear Creek:


Chris thinks this one is below the tank in Black Hawk - note the crossbuck on the lower-left and the tram tower to the right:


Rotary at the depot in Black Hawk:

[Keith Hayes]

That must have taken a while. Black Hawk is tight quarters and there was not much of anywhere to throw snow to get it out of the way in the yard. They must have shoveled out the turntable, and turned the whole train to go up the switchback; then they had to back down, turn everything again, and return to where they left off to get to Central.

All in a day's work, I guess.

Great pics, Todd. Thanks for sharing!

[drgwcs]

I wish I could remember which book- but one makes mention that the rotary only went up one time down the Clear Creek line in the 20th century. As tight as what Black Hawk was that must have been a challenge.

[Jim Courtney]

They must have shoveled out the turntable, and turned the whole train to go up the switchback

I doubt that the rotary and tender would fit on the Blackhawk turntable. I suspect that after the rotary cleared all the C&S track up to the Hidden Treasure Mill, the whole rotary train was backed down to Forks, turned on the wye, backed back up to Blackhawk, then began plowing the second section of track of the switch back to the end of the tail track. I believe Todd's first photo was taken on this section of the switch back, well above downtown Blackhawk. This photo is likely by the same photographer looking the other direction, after the rotary train passed:




To reach Central, the entire backing process would have to be repeated, the train again turned a Forks, then returning to Blackhawk, backing up the switchback before plowing out the line up on the upper switchback to the Central depot.  Comments??

To get all the Blackhawk rotary photos in one place, here is the rotary train being watered at some point that day:

[Todd Hackett]

Jim Courtney wrote

...I doubt that the rotary and tender would fit on the Blackhawk turntable. I suspect that after the rotary cleared all the C&S track up to the Hidden Treasure Mill, the whole rotary train was backed down to Forks, turned on the wye, backed back up to Blackhawk, then began plowing the second section of track of the switch back to the end of the tail track...

From the folio for 99200, the total wheel base with tender appears to be just under 46', and the Black Hawk turntable was 50', so it would fit and could be turned, but the blade area and tender end beam would hang over. That's similar to the B4Fs which were longer than 50' and were routinely turned on 50' turntables with pilot and rear beam overhanging. They still probably couldn't use the Black Hawk turntable because I don't think the tail was long enough for a locomotive, which would be needed to push the rotary off the table when it was facing downstream. They may have been able to use cables or some other means, but that's probably more trouble than heading down to the wye at Forks Creek. Running the rotary up to Central City was definitely not an easy task.

[Chris Walker]

[Mike Trent]

Yes, it could fit on the table, but that's only half the problem. Getting it off would be a problem. At Como, the Rotary had to be pulled backward into its stall, then the uncoupled engine could be backed onto the turntable. Seems most likely that the Rotary would have been backed from Blackhawk on it's return.

Thanks, guys, this is fascinating!

[Chris Walker]

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[Jim Courtney]

I don't see a need to run the whole shebang back down.

Look again, Chris . . . in the photo of the rotary train being watered at Blackhawk tank, number 6 is the rear engine. All three locomotives are pointed up stream (north). In my second photo, number 6 is still the rear engine, still pointed upstream. But the other two locomotives are pointed downstream towards Forks (south) while pushing the rotary.

So at least two locomotives and the rotary were turned at Forks, then lugged back upgrade, with two locomotives running tender first. The C&S seemed to like the lead engine running locomotive first, so I suspect all three locomotives were backed down to Forks.

[Chris Walker]

retracted Jim.  I was reading into the moment, not the wider picture.

[Chris Walker]

[Jim Courtney]

Fascinating info, Chris!

BTW, since there was no wye or turntable at Idaho Springs, the rotary train must have backed down grade from I.S. to Forks to then take on clearing the branch to Blackhawk.

It is also interesting that they were running the rotary train at night.

[Todd Hackett]

Here's a view similar to the first one in the post, but without the snow:


Close-up of the Black Hawk Boiler and Sheet Iron Works, and the adjacent building with the Bull Durham advertisement (presently the Bull Durham Casino):


Close-up of the Gilpin Mill in need of some roof work:

[Rick Steele]

Todd,

Note the open-back ore hopper on the back side of the Big 50 Mill.

[Todd Hackett]

Rick Steele wrote

Todd,

Note the open-back ore hopper on the back side of the Big 50 Mill.

Is this the Big 50?

[Chris Walker]

Sort of Todd, the Fifty Gold Mines Mill(the Big 5 mill was in Idaho Springs).

Rick Steele wrote

Todd,

Note the open-back ore hopper on the back side of the Big 50 Mill.

The Bobtail Tramway cars Rick is describing are these; paired orecars.



It has been said(in Denver mining modeller circles, to me) that these were from Ohio, but the Ralston brand were somewhat different in drawgear and latch detail.  I'd hazard a guess that the Bobtail Tramway cars were built either by McFarlane in Black Hawk, or a Denver firm.



The Bobtail type orecars could also be found at Perigo, lending evidence of local manufacture.

Denver Public Library L-581


Also in Todd's Mill picture(full), on the far right is a good look at the Banzai Mine Shafthouse, now faded and forgotten. Excellent images Todd.

[Darel Leedy]

FYI - A couple of these ore cars still exist at the Polar Star mill. Norm was very generous with the information he supplied about them. I measured them and had Joe draw them up some thirty years ago. Have no clue where that is now. Somebody else may want to draw them again.

[drgwcs]

Todd Hackett wrote

Here's a view similar to the first one in the post, but without the snow:

Well lookie there- Alexander Hois just pointed this picture out in the C&S Facebook group when we were talking about the Conoco facilities- there are the tanks that we had been wondering about both there and another thread in here where the tanks would unload. We had pics of tank cars in this area but not the tanks.

[MattM]

Finally! A topic I know too much about that is relevant to here!

The dump cars used at the Bobtail Tunnel had several different builders, and they actually date to the 1870s.  This clipping is from Weekly Register-Call, Volume 17, Number 39, April 25, 1879, describing the cars.  Pretty amazing they built this design so early and remained in use for so long.
 


Here is a drawing of the cars, from 1898's "A Manual of Mining" by Magnus Colbjørn.



It's not known who built these first cars, though early, pre-Boston & Denver photos show the same cars in use pulled by horses. (History Colorado Record 9PH.PROP.2903)

 


These cars were likely built by Stroehle & Sons,  they built several of these cars in 1909 for the 50 Gold Mines (Weekly Register-Call, Volume XLVIII, Number 9, July 23, 1909)



 and also reportedly built them for a mine in Perigo, the Joe Dandy in Dumont and larger versions for the Marshal-Russell in Empire


However, a majority of the cars seem to have been built by the Denver Boiler & Sheet Iron Works, if you look at the lettering on some of the cars, you can make out the "Boiler & Sheet Iron Works" part.  At least 11 of these cars were built by this firm, who also built some cars for the Gilpin Tramway

The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 41, Number 204, July 23, 1900



Now on to the locomotives.  We all know the Jeffrey locomotive, it was a Jeffrey model DM-20 4 Tonner built in July 1900, and wasn't actually owned by the Boston & Denver but the Cook Gold Mine. In 1902 it was purchased by the 50 Gold Mines Co when they bought most of the Gregory and Bobtail workings.



Now, much less known was the gasoline locomotive used for only a short time.  This little critter was built in May of 1900 for the Cook Gold Mine, and only ran for a week before being taken out of commission for being too under powered. It was built by the Prouty Motor Co. of Chicago and was probably one of the first gasoline powered locomotives built in the world.  Prouty only built a dozen or so locomotives and most were short lived.
Colorado Mining Gazette, Volume XVIII, Number 45, June 9, 1900
   


Now lastly (for the mining era)we have the 6 Ton Goodman locomotive.   This was purchased in 1909.   It can be presumed that both the Jeffrey and Goodman locomotives were sold off in 1912 when the 50 Gold Mines went bankrupt.
 


During the tourism era after WWII I've heard reports that an air powered locomotive was used, probably an EIMCo, however I've only seen  photos of mules hauling the man car during this period.  A Mancha Battery Trammer was on site in 2010, but I don't know if it still being used.   The Black Hawk City Government bought the property a few years ago and have started restoration work in the tunnel, they posted a video last year showing the front of a train traversing the tunnel, but doesn't show the train itself. The Mancha Trammer and at least one of the old Bobtail Cars are now owed by the Blake family and on display privately at the Polar Star Mill in Chase Gulch.

[MattM]

Chris, do you have a source of this photo? It is one of the few of the Bobtail Jeffrey Locomotive I haven't seen.