Re: D&RG Grading Through Platte Canyon...

Posted by chtrout on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/D-RG-Grading-Through-Platte-Canyon-tp14485p14516.html

Jimmy Blouch wrote

More than one route was surveyed for the Denver Short Line.
I have documentation showing the various routes.
However, it is presently not at hand.
When I find it I will try to post the various routes that had been surveyed.

Jimmy

Hi Jimmy,

Yes, the 1889 "Denver Shortline" was based on the original 1879 survey, which actually considered several possible routes on the west end.  I have highlighted the original route via the Salt Works and Trout Creek Pass that seems to have been reported most often in the newspapers, and the route apparently most-favored by the D&RG.  The D&RG had also considered taking off northwest from the vicinity of the Salt Works, and instead, heading over Hoosier Pass to Breckenridge to connect with the "Blue River Branch," which was already being planned.  A third route being considered took off from Lidderdale (just downriver from Lake George), and then headed southwest over the Calumet Divide and down to Brown's Canyon, although due to the very "rude" grades involved, I cannot imagine this third choice being very attractive.  The very steep Calumet Branch was eventually built on the final segment of this third route.  

Regardless, by the time of the 1889 "Denver Shortline," D&RG president David H. Moffat directly stated that he intended to connect with the Colorado Midland at Lidderdale, or that is to say a near-water-level route along the South Fork of the South Platte for the entire distance, so any alternate routes had apparently been discarded. Also, the "Denver Shortline" had now evolved into a partnership with the Colorado Midland for construction purposes.

A previous post by Chris Walker on 28 Feb 2017 in the "Hello Folks" thread showed west-end of the 1879 survey and selected segments of several of those various alternate routes being considered.   The "Platte Canyon" end of the survey, which all the routes shared as their common origin, seems to be missing unless someone has finally found it.