Re: DSP&P Passenger Car Research

Posted by Tundracamper on Mar 21, 2025; 4:53pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/DSP-P-Passenger-Car-Research-tp20585p20597.html

So now I’m going to ask some questions that will clearly demonstrate my ignorance and confusion on dates of mergers, etc…

You mention that most excursions were on the “Clear Creek Branch.”  Wouldn’t that mean these photos were taken after the 1893 merger of the Colorado Central with the DL&G?  Does that mean the DSP&P didn’t have any excursion cars and they were only added sometime after 1893 to the follow-on companies?  When I see photos like the following, it makes me think DSP&P had excursion cars. However, I can’t find any detailed info on this image as the link in the post is no good, so perhaps I am just wishfully drawing a conclusion. Was this photo on the Clear Creek Branch as well?

Mike Trent wrote

Bear in mind that many, most, all of these photos are of excursions, on the Clear Creek Branch. So the consists are essentially a number of random coaches with one or two open observation cars. The locomotives used on these trains would be 2-6-0's and the length of these trains would be what you see in the pictures.

Standard consists for the regular daily passenger trains would include a Baggage and Mail car or a baggage car and maybe a single coach ot as many as two or three. Mixed trains might feature a combine behind a caboose.

Excursion trains on the Mainline above Waterton were usually "Fish Trains" which would include a baggage car for gear and a number of coaches. These were not uncommon in the Platte Canyon District into the 30's.

Passenger Trains on the Mainline generally included a Baggage and Mail Car if Mail was carried, or a Baggage Car or a Combine if not, and one or two coaches. So there are different types of consists depending on Mail or no Mail, time of year, or whatever other variables might be present.

Obviously there are a lot of pictures of excursion trains mostly on the Clear Creek Branch because well, they were excursion trains.

Hope this helps somewhat.