Re: pre Rocky Mountain National Park Transprt Part 1of ether 10or20

Posted by Dave Eggleston on Oct 16, 2024; 10:14pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/pre-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Transprt-Part-1of-ether-10or20-tp20202p20226.html

Andrew, you mention the GSL&P as one of the four railroads, giving a date of 1880 for construction. I don't see it on your maps and the date is too early. The GSL&P actually had two sections, one standard gauge between Ft Collins and Greeley in 1881 that I don't believe ever came near the park, the other a narrow gauge built in 1884 west out of Boulder Canyon 14 miles to Sunset. I don't think it crossed into the future boundary of the park and it was wiped out in a disasterous flood in 1894. While there were "plans" to build the narrow gauge on to the Pacific, this was more Union Pacific posturing in the local railroad politics. Only a few miles were graded from Sunset in 1884 and these immediately turned east leaving town to climb the slope, moving away from the future park boundary. The narrow gauge line was never successful, relying on leased Colorado Central engines and cars, and later cars from the South Park, Utah & Northern and Kansas Central to haul its meager traffic.

The Colorado & Northwestern was built on part of the GSL&P grade 4-5 years later and then expanded beyond Sunset in lines to the north and south. I don't know much about how close this line got to the park's boundary but it is the more likely candidate for touching the park's land.

There were also several paper railroads (proposed but never built) in the Gilpin County area that may be candidates for the railroad activity you're tracking.