Signs of Life on the Gunnison Branch, 1912-1915

[Kurt Maechner]

As many of us know, the DSP&P/Colorado & Southern mainline from Como to Gunnison via the great Alpine Tunnel went dark after the closure of the tunnel at the end of 1910, but I found a few curious details showing some life a few years later.

While bits of the Gunnison line lived on, even the inactive tracks were left in place over a decade. I put together a piece looking at some curious uses for the remaining tracks between Hancock and the east portal of the tunnel, one of which nearly turned deadly for a group of recreational handcar riders. I also found a newspaper article (Thanks to Daniel W. Edwards' great books) relating the nighttime opening of part of the old Gunnison mainline out of Como.

You can find the post on my blog here (or on the Substack version here).
Enjoy,
Kurt

C&S grade west of Hancock (looking eastbound)