Yet Another DPL Gem: Unseen Clear Creek.

[Chris Walker]

An unpublished view of the General Sherman wreckage near Inspiration Point. This was one of two 0-4-0 Souther locos. The Pole at right normally carries the Signboard: a later photo taken show the wreckage still there but the sign replaced.

[Dave Eggleston]

Chris,

This is a fantastic find! I think I've only seen the one with the cab remains nearby.

I believe there were three Souther engines brought in originally, two during August 1872 (#1 - Gen Sheridan, #2 - Gen Sherman) and a third, likely numbered #3 but apparently un-named or I just haven't run across a name so far. I've not seen a receipt date for the third Souther but suspect either August or September 1872.

The first Porters arrived in March and April 1873 taking open numbers #4 and #5.

During February/March 1875 the CCRR did a realignment of engine numbering into something presumably more logical. On 27 Feb 1875 #2 Gen Sherman and #3 were fitted as switchers and lost their numbers, becoming only discussed as "Punch" and "Judy". On 6 March 1875, #1 Gen Sheridan was shipped to Omaha and never returned to Colorado. At this time the D&B/National/Porter engine #6 (first), built April 1874, was  renumbered #1 (second). In June 1875 two new Porters (c/n 214 and 217) arrived numbered #2 (second) and #3 (second).

Concurrently, on 17 Feb 1875 the CCRR Golden shops were reporting building tender frames for a Souther and the expected two new Porters (second #2 and second #3), presumably 4-wheel tenders.

"Punch" and "Judy" worked primarily as switchers until being sent to Omaha 4 June 1879. They never returned to Colorado.

[Chris Walker]

degg13 wrote

This is a fantastic find! I think I've only seen the one with the cab remains nearby.

DPL C-24  Joseph Collier photo.


"Passenger car at Inspiration Point"




Examining both images, one can determine(at the time of derailing) the General Sherman had a well tank, and a Flatcar trailing the locomotive.  
This DPL Collier view doesn't show the Flatcar frame, nor the rope restraining the frame, just the Trucks present.
Whether or not there were additional(saddle or side) tanks as well remains a mystery.  I've only seen pictures with the added Tender or the later Switcher version.

The track structure adjacent the engineframe appears to show replaced crossties and a sharp deflection both in line and level at the rail joint(creekside).  The CC appear to use a completely different Railbrace at this point as well.
 
There are no end of details coming to light to speculate about, is there!  

[Chris Walker]

Missed one....

[Jim Courtney]

Wow, Chris, keep em' coming! I've never seen this one before.

I'm going to need a Ken Martin consultation to identify the three passenger cars behind the baggage car:




And what's with the vertical box-like thing on the right platform of the middle car?  Looks like the ice-box on the RGS business car Edna.  What is it??

And the very short car on the left, with a stove and roof smoke jack, smack dab in the middle of the car!

[Paul R.]

and the oval nameplate in the middle of the side, looks like one of the early cars? Paul R.

[Chris Walker]

keep em' coming! I've never seen this one before.

Jim,

I don't have the Georgetown and the Loop book, but I have niggling rememberances it may have been in there.

As to which Car it is, I have no clue.

[Ken Martin]

I had to do some looking on this.

The short car is CC 3 or 4 likely 4 as 3 burned in 1880.

If you look in the center window it looks like a metal cylinder, that would make it a Baker Heater.

The other two cars look like UP built 8 & 9 which became C&S 53 & 54.

I have no idea what is on the platform.

Ken Martin

[Ken Martin]

I forgot to add CC4 is only 30' 9"over end sills.

Ken Martin

[Chris Walker]

Appears to be a Survey Party rather than Trackworkers.

[Paul R.]

Chris,
 notice the clamps on the outside of the rail, must have been a tight curve.?

[Chris Walker]

Paul R. wrote

Chris,
 notice the clamps on the outside of the rail, must have been a tight curve.?

Handlaid code55 and overscale HO spikeheads Paul,       

[South Park]

In my shop I have an original construction No.2 rail brace and chunk of
rail from the South Park mainline to Gunnison.  The originals were cast
aside when the line was relaid with heavier rail.

[Chris Walker]

This photo by Lachlan McLean in the DPL X-7303, and on pg127 of Dan Abbott's Colorado Central Rail Road.  Both images present as verry muddy and lacking detail, however....



Contrary to Abbott's caption, the loco is #107 nee C.C. #14. Also of note: the T.O.board is not visible in the muddy versions.

[South Park]

  I have seen a zillion ways to build a pole or bracket for getting
wires where they need to go, but that bundle of business guiding
the telegraph wires over the water tank to the depot is like none
I have seen before !    I'd like to see where the wires go to the right,
as the second arm only carries two of the four that the other carries !

Great share, Chris !

[Chris Walker]

SthPark,

You mentioned a single Telegraph wire on the S.P. in On the Way West,  here's a couple of examples of the Colorado Central line deep in Clear Creek.

[South Park]

Locations ?

[Chris Walker]

South Park wrote

Locations ?

upper photo is Elk Creek, lower photo is just shy of Chimney Gulch, in Clear Creek 9 miles and 3 miles up from Golden, respectively.  Beaver Brook is in between so these are the nearest that have close-up insulator details of the original single-wire that I can present.

[South Park]

  The upper photo, ... is there rail present in the non-cropped photo ?
That insulator predates the RR.

[Chris Walker]

Yes there is rail....