Re: C&S 74 Entering Leadville

Posted by Chris Walker on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/C-S-74-Entering-Leadville-tp17245p17255.html

Yes the roof hatches have been discussed here before.  Most likely for Cement and Aggregates used to make concrete in the expansion of the Mill, see: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Freight-car-ratios-tp205p310.html .


No, they weren't for outbound Moly in bulk.  Photos taken in 1918 show Moly was shipped in 100lb sacks, prior to WW2 export orders in the '30's were shipped in 600lb Oak shipping casks except that ordered by Japan, which was shipped in steel drums, with Drums becoming standard after that.  

Interior view of a warehouse filled with barrels at the Climax Mine in Lake County, Colorado.
https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/36893

As for that tankcar, shown in captive Climax-Leadville service.  Note the lettering is almost gone but the car number is fresh.  I've often wondered if this could have been for flotation reagent not fuel, in the beginning, distilled pine oil was used but switched to Arctic Syntex M in the mid-1930's.  Just what quantity was used and how it was shipped in, I don't know or haven't yet read.  

There was no open cast operations until around the late 1940's to require large quantities of fuel.  Surface tramways were electric and Climax had only one Steam shovel bought in 1930, although a photo shows two crawler tractors(Bulldozers) together at one place. Fuel to support that sort of operation I think, would be supplied by a truck load of 44 gal. drums.  I haven't seen any bulk tanks(for fuel storage) at the Climax Mill during expansion either, those were down at Bulk-depots in Leadville.

EDIT:  To lend credence to the drum usage but not the roofhatch for cement theory, see this photo with an electric concrete mixer adjacent to a stack of bagged cement,and a pile of steel drums in the background.
https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/36904