Re: Eight wheel Caboose on C&Sng?

Posted by Chris Walker on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Eight-wheel-Caboose-on-C-Sng-tp488p3622.html

In Derrell's picture of a C&S Bobber #1002:  http://c-sn3-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Eight-wheel-Caboose-on-C-Sng-tp488p1918.html 

In the background is a huge wastedump which I figured was around the Lincoln or Salisbury Mine properties at Stanley Mills above Idaho Springs.   I had wrongfully dismissed my own thoughts that the picture was taken at the Newhouse/Argo Tunnel.   Looking at the progression of pictures taken by Lachlan McLean and others, I now believe for certain that is the true location indeed.

In the background behind that caboose is a mine track with loaded Minecars visible upon it.  This oddity fooled me at first, given the Newhouse/Argo brought out waste rock or ore and dumped either on the wastedump or into the the bins, or later the Argo Mill.  The tunnel was at a considerable height above the C&S siding trackage so why would there be loaded Minecars at trackside? The nearby Salisbury, Lincoln and Stanley properties all had tramways and dumps but none really fit this location.  It wasn't until I rediscovered the photo taken at the Stanley showing the Roadlevel Tunnel and another view of the Newhouse/Argo that led me finally to this correct conclusion.  

Dead in the centre of Caboose 1002 shows what appears to be a Buda switchstand but conveniently without a mast and target.  Was that target photoshopped out for clarity on the caboose details? Am I confusing Caboose frame details with a switchstand?  Odd!  There also was the concrete wall lower down in the photo that could have been added as protection for the downstream abutment for a footbridge seen in other photos taken at the Newhouse/Argo, that would most certainly fit with there. Looking closely at DPL Z-2797 shows a very large round boulder between the Sw-St and the Footbridge, a similar boulder is also visible in behind the concrete wall in Derrell's 1002 picture.  The powerpole behind the switchstand is visible in both photos.


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/67651/rv/singleitem 


This following picture reproduced in the Smith/Wieler book Secure the Shadow: Lachlan McLean on pg39, was taken earlier but similar to the DPL X-61683  http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/38917/rv/singleitem  and shows the tramway behind the C&S passing track and Mainline beside Clear Creek.  Note that tramway connects the trackage of the Argo Tunnel on the dump by use of an incline.  

I am thinking that any inbound carloads of Ore to the Argo Mill from other Mines were handled via this arrangement on completion of the Argo Mill.  Maybe this will pin the date of Derrell's picture of #1002 to that of after the Mill construction.


From Secure the Shadow: Lachlan McLean Smith/Wieler Colorado School of Mines, on pg39

The 18" gauge tracks can be seen in this Otto Perry shot of the #69.

http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/42303/rv/singleitem/rec/94