Re: Alpine Tunnel Construction Camps

Posted by Rick Steele on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Alpine-Tunnel-Construction-Camps-tp19236p19256.html

Hi Dave,

Of course, you're correct in the timetables, etc.

BUT, as you said, what is the point of using a track built for construction for something (or anything) else at that remote location.

I don't know if any of what I am about to say pertains to what happened up there it is 100% conjecture.

Back then Taxes were always a consideration and remember that the DSP&P/DL&G was owned by Big Daddy Uncle Pete for most of their lives. It wasn't until 1893, after the death of Jay Gould and the bankruptcy of UP that they came under the receivership of Frank Trumbull and began the long climb back. Thanks to Trumbull's coal holdings at Baldwin. But back to taxes. To not count a track as taxable, it has to be inaccessible to use.

My thought (remember 100% conjecture) is that the Wye at Hancock was made "unusable" by removing the rail or spiking the switch and removing the switchstand or removing a piece of rail so that it could not be used. The same thing could pertain to Alpine. It could sit, much like the Morning Star siding on the Georgetown Loop, with no working turnouts. Why put it back into service? Perhaps the tunnel needed some repairs or work on the snowsheds or doors on the east end and the "station" was put back into service as a matter of convenience, having the accounting department list it as new. I saw this done on a couple of broad gauge short lines that I worked on. As for the wye? I see Ferrell lists it on his 1885 map of Hancock in his South Park book. Again, the C&S might have had to go in, replace some rotten ties, straighten some kinked rail and put new switchstands in place and voila! a new wye.

Of course, unless there is a repair record of a Section Foreman for that district from 1883-1900, we will never know the absolute facts of the matter. As I said, this is just conjecture and nothing more, but it does provide a plausible explanation as to the gaps during the UP ownership years.

Rick