Work on either the layout or at the workbench has been pretty much non-existent, having now been laid up with a bum foot for over a month. And that idleness will probably continue now as the busy rodeo season kicks off. However, I have been able to gather more stories for "Along The Blue".
For me, historical railroad modeling should tell a story. With these regular series of posts, it was my intention to present (and record for myself) a way of life. In a previous post entitled The Human Element , I spoke to the importance of a knowledge and understanding of this when modeling historical periods. Rivet counting is one thing; knowing the story is another. Not everything was always happy, or evolved around the railroad either. Sometimes life was extremely tragic, such as the story below.
Though non-railroad related, I will continue to document stories such as these here, as they help convey to me a sense of time and place, and add a personal side to my modeling.
Breckenridge Bulletin; May 19, 1900;
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Three Little Children are Carried to Death by the Infuriated Blue.
Almost in the identical spot where young Fred Palmer was drowned last August, on Sunday afternoon last, three more children lost their lives in a similar manner. On that afternoon Mr. Emmet Emmons and his family, consisting of wife and three children, had gone across the Blue on a visit with the family of U.G. McKinley. And after a pleasant stay of several hours were returning home again, accompanied by Mrs. McKinley and little son.
When the party had reached the bridge above Dickey, the horses became unmanageable for some reason, and upset the wagon and all its occupants into the river. When the accident occurred, Mr. C.G. Richardson was standing near the bridge, and he at once began the work of rescue, succeeding in saving both the ladies and one of the children. The other three, two of Mr. Emmons and one of Mr. McKinley's, between the ages of two and four years were taken away by the mad waters to a horrible death.
As soon as possible, searching parties for the missing children organized. About nine or ten o'clock one of the Emmons children and the McKinley boy were found about three-fourths of a mile down the river, and about eleven o'clock Mr. I.C. Palmer started for this place to procure caskets for their burial, which occurred Monday afternoon, being conducted by Rev. C.M. Cooper, who returned with Mr. Palmer.
At last accounts the third child had not been found, and since the Blue is very full of water, it is doubtful if the body will be recovered. As a matter of course, the Emmons and McKinley families are prostrated with grief over the catastrophe, and in fact, it has cast a glean of sadness over the entire county that will require a long time to efface.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Lucky Dog | 0 Comments - Click Here :
Roper has South Park in his blood!
Too bad he is of little knowledge when it comes to historical information.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
"Along The Blue" #12 | 0 Comments - Click Here :
Just a normal week on the High Line:
Summit County Journal; Mar 6, 1909
Ice King Reigns in Realm of Boreas
Here is the week's diary of railroading on the High Line:
Friday - Train No. 71 arrives here in Breckenridge at midnight in the wake of a crew of shovelers who had performed a hard and long day's work. All put up at Dickey for the night. Four days' blockade is broken.
Saturday - No. 72, from Dickey, goes through on time, but has only reached Argentine when No. 71 passes it. It then gets through all right. No. 71 but a few minutes late until it leaves Dillon, when the engine leaves track and topples over, Engineer Thady breaking his wrist. With another engine the train proceeds on it's way to Leadville, arriving there at 9 p.m.
Sunday - Opinions of orthodox people not withstanding, Sunday is the day of days for travel on the South Park. The day was fine, and everything moved nearly on schedule time. No. 72 brought in thirteen mails by way of Leadville, and Breckenridge was in touch with the course of events once more.
Monday - No.72 on time here, but five hours late in Como. No. 71 had a hard time of it through South Park and did not arrive here till midnight.
Tuesday - A howling wind creates further havoc on the pass. Two engines put in the afternoon in a vain attempt to push through from this side. No. 72 arrives from Leadville at 6 p.m., and returns to that city.
Wednesday - Though it was a veritable summer day, so far as sunshine and warmth were concerned, it not only failed to lift the blockade, but added to the treacherous ice which is now the chief difficulty. When 72 had arrived, but a few minutes late, three engines and a gang of section men started for the pass to open the road. No word having been received from them by 4 o'clock, 72 returned to Leadville.
Thursday - Nothing moved over the pass. No. 72 returned to Leadville on 71's time. Weather fine.
Friday - No change apparent.
Summit County Journal; Mar 6, 1909
Ice King Reigns in Realm of Boreas
Here is the week's diary of railroading on the High Line:
Friday - Train No. 71 arrives here in Breckenridge at midnight in the wake of a crew of shovelers who had performed a hard and long day's work. All put up at Dickey for the night. Four days' blockade is broken.
Saturday - No. 72, from Dickey, goes through on time, but has only reached Argentine when No. 71 passes it. It then gets through all right. No. 71 but a few minutes late until it leaves Dillon, when the engine leaves track and topples over, Engineer Thady breaking his wrist. With another engine the train proceeds on it's way to Leadville, arriving there at 9 p.m.
Sunday - Opinions of orthodox people not withstanding, Sunday is the day of days for travel on the South Park. The day was fine, and everything moved nearly on schedule time. No. 72 brought in thirteen mails by way of Leadville, and Breckenridge was in touch with the course of events once more.
Monday - No.72 on time here, but five hours late in Como. No. 71 had a hard time of it through South Park and did not arrive here till midnight.
Tuesday - A howling wind creates further havoc on the pass. Two engines put in the afternoon in a vain attempt to push through from this side. No. 72 arrives from Leadville at 6 p.m., and returns to that city.
Wednesday - Though it was a veritable summer day, so far as sunshine and warmth were concerned, it not only failed to lift the blockade, but added to the treacherous ice which is now the chief difficulty. When 72 had arrived, but a few minutes late, three engines and a gang of section men started for the pass to open the road. No word having been received from them by 4 o'clock, 72 returned to Leadville.
Thursday - Nothing moved over the pass. No. 72 returned to Leadville on 71's time. Weather fine.
Friday - No change apparent.
Friday, April 19, 2013
"Along The Blue" #11 | 0 Comments - Click Here :
A severely sprained ankle has sidelined me for the last week. And as a result, absolutely no progress has been made towards the layout or even my workbench for that matter. I've been doing some reading though, and I thought I'd share a little more of life in the valley with you:
The Blue Valley Times; Jul 4, 1913;
Small Blaze At Dillon Depot
Sparks from a locomotive found lodging between the boards of the rather dilapidated platform on the west side of Dillon's railroad depot on Tuesday ignited a stringer near the north end of Agent Kellar's new summer kitchen. The fact was discovered and the incipient blaze put out.
That is, it was thought to have been put out. But on Wednesday afternoon the platform burst into flames near the south end of the summer kitchen, and it was found that the smoldering fire had eaten its way along the affected stringer underneath the kitchen, for a distance of about 20 feet. With the aid of some section men and others who were handy, the blaze was speedily put out.
It happened that the Superintendent of bridges and buildings was at the depot at the time, which fact promises to lead to some needed repairs around the place.
The Blue Valley Times; Aug 8, 1913;
Six Cars of Calves
Six carloads of yearling cattle, consigned to Hamilton & Bach, of the Blue River valley, were unloaded at the corral of the Dillon railroad yard last night. There were 186 head. The cattle were bought in northern Alberta, Canada, and shipped here in charge of Mr. Levine, a former ranch-man of Grand County. They were on the road three weeks and traveled 2,000 miles. Mr. Levine declares as unfounded, the report in a Denver paper that forty-five head of the consignment disappeared at Greeley.
Though the Dickey section house is only three miles away and a crew of section men had been dilly-dallying in the vicinity of Dillon yard all summer, the late announcement of the six cars of cattle billed for Dillon and would arrive here after dark, found the siding un-repaired and unsafe.
To put it in shape for a reasonably safe reception of the six cars of cattle, a crew of laborers had to be collected and a special train made up in Leadville to come to Dillon and repair the siding leading to the stock chute. The train arrived with a car of half-rotten ties collected en route for the emergency, and the laborers were kept busy putting the track in shape till 'way after midnight.
The Blue Valley Times; Jul 4, 1913;
Small Blaze At Dillon Depot
Sparks from a locomotive found lodging between the boards of the rather dilapidated platform on the west side of Dillon's railroad depot on Tuesday ignited a stringer near the north end of Agent Kellar's new summer kitchen. The fact was discovered and the incipient blaze put out.
That is, it was thought to have been put out. But on Wednesday afternoon the platform burst into flames near the south end of the summer kitchen, and it was found that the smoldering fire had eaten its way along the affected stringer underneath the kitchen, for a distance of about 20 feet. With the aid of some section men and others who were handy, the blaze was speedily put out.
It happened that the Superintendent of bridges and buildings was at the depot at the time, which fact promises to lead to some needed repairs around the place.
The Blue Valley Times; Aug 8, 1913;
Six Cars of Calves
Six carloads of yearling cattle, consigned to Hamilton & Bach, of the Blue River valley, were unloaded at the corral of the Dillon railroad yard last night. There were 186 head. The cattle were bought in northern Alberta, Canada, and shipped here in charge of Mr. Levine, a former ranch-man of Grand County. They were on the road three weeks and traveled 2,000 miles. Mr. Levine declares as unfounded, the report in a Denver paper that forty-five head of the consignment disappeared at Greeley.
Though the Dickey section house is only three miles away and a crew of section men had been dilly-dallying in the vicinity of Dillon yard all summer, the late announcement of the six cars of cattle billed for Dillon and would arrive here after dark, found the siding un-repaired and unsafe.
To put it in shape for a reasonably safe reception of the six cars of cattle, a crew of laborers had to be collected and a special train made up in Leadville to come to Dillon and repair the siding leading to the stock chute. The train arrived with a car of half-rotten ties collected en route for the emergency, and the laborers were kept busy putting the track in shape till 'way after midnight.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
"Along The Blue" #10 | 1 Comments - Click Here :
Leadville Herald Democrat; Feb 11, 1893;
The White Death
The Crew of a Rotary on the South Park Meet With a Terrible Fate
Frisco, Colo. Feb, 10 - A snow slide struck a Union Pacific snow plow and two engines at this place at 9 O'clock this morning, and instantly killed Engineer Lynch and Fireman Smith, and seriously injured Engineers Boynton and McGreevey and Brakeman Hawkins. A mountain of snow covered the unfortunate men, and it took several hours to dig out the dead and injured.
Details of the Disaster.
The terrible accident has caused intense excitement. The accident occurred about a mile west of Frisco, and not far from Dickey, about thirty one miles from Leadville. At this point the road runs along the side of the mountain, which is very steep, and there is a deep gulch below, extending down probably several hundred feet.
The rotary had been ordered out in the morning to keep the track clear and was standing on the track steaming up. John Lynch, the engineer on the rotary, was engaged in oiling the machine, and J.B. Smith, the fireman on the rotary, was also standing near, as were John Roan, a Fireman, Dan McGreevey, an engineer, and William Boynton, engineer of engine 263.
There was some snow falling, and all hands were busy preparing for a vigorous campaign against the heavy drifts. Suddenly, against the noise of the escaping steam, could be heard a distant rumble. It grew louder and louder, and suddenly the men realized that an avalanche was upon them. An effort was made to escape from the impending danger, for it was now seen that the awful snow slide was directly above them. It was too late, and with a frightful roar the mass of rock and snow plunged down like lighting, crashing everything beneath it into the gulch below.
When those who escaped alive were able to realize what had occurred, an awful site met their gaze. The rotary had been knocked off the ledge and was a total wreck. Engine 263 was knocked off the side, and was covered with snow, while beneath a mass of snow and rock 150 feet long and ten feet deep were the bodies of Lynch, the engineer, and J.B. Smith, the Fireman of the Rotary. Roan had his nose broken and head bruised, but not seriously, while William Boynton, of engine 263, has a badly sprained and bruised ankle.
The officials were at once notified of the accident and a wrecking crew dispatched to the scene. The injured men were all sent to Denver. The remains of Lynch were sent to Breckenridge for burial. The other man, Smith, is from Como, and his remains were taken there.
The track in the vicinity of the accident has been cleared away, and traffic is moving, another rotary having been dispatched to the scene of the trouble in order to keep everything clear.
The White Death
The Crew of a Rotary on the South Park Meet With a Terrible Fate
Frisco, Colo. Feb, 10 - A snow slide struck a Union Pacific snow plow and two engines at this place at 9 O'clock this morning, and instantly killed Engineer Lynch and Fireman Smith, and seriously injured Engineers Boynton and McGreevey and Brakeman Hawkins. A mountain of snow covered the unfortunate men, and it took several hours to dig out the dead and injured.
Details of the Disaster.
The terrible accident has caused intense excitement. The accident occurred about a mile west of Frisco, and not far from Dickey, about thirty one miles from Leadville. At this point the road runs along the side of the mountain, which is very steep, and there is a deep gulch below, extending down probably several hundred feet.
The rotary had been ordered out in the morning to keep the track clear and was standing on the track steaming up. John Lynch, the engineer on the rotary, was engaged in oiling the machine, and J.B. Smith, the fireman on the rotary, was also standing near, as were John Roan, a Fireman, Dan McGreevey, an engineer, and William Boynton, engineer of engine 263.
There was some snow falling, and all hands were busy preparing for a vigorous campaign against the heavy drifts. Suddenly, against the noise of the escaping steam, could be heard a distant rumble. It grew louder and louder, and suddenly the men realized that an avalanche was upon them. An effort was made to escape from the impending danger, for it was now seen that the awful snow slide was directly above them. It was too late, and with a frightful roar the mass of rock and snow plunged down like lighting, crashing everything beneath it into the gulch below.
When those who escaped alive were able to realize what had occurred, an awful site met their gaze. The rotary had been knocked off the ledge and was a total wreck. Engine 263 was knocked off the side, and was covered with snow, while beneath a mass of snow and rock 150 feet long and ten feet deep were the bodies of Lynch, the engineer, and J.B. Smith, the Fireman of the Rotary. Roan had his nose broken and head bruised, but not seriously, while William Boynton, of engine 263, has a badly sprained and bruised ankle.
The officials were at once notified of the accident and a wrecking crew dispatched to the scene. The injured men were all sent to Denver. The remains of Lynch were sent to Breckenridge for burial. The other man, Smith, is from Como, and his remains were taken there.
The track in the vicinity of the accident has been cleared away, and traffic is moving, another rotary having been dispatched to the scene of the trouble in order to keep everything clear.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Funky Business | 2 Comments - Click Here :
It's been a month since my last blog entry. For whatever the reason, I've been in a funk when it has come to working on the layout. I had a cold for a week, which went away and then returned with a vengeance for another two weeks. That really didn't help put me in the mood to do anything. I did acquire a few things that are needed though. One of those was the skirting, and I managed to get it installed. I acquired an C&S #22, a #70, and an NCE Cab04pr throttle. I also collected the necessary parts to build a "walk-around" sound system as Lance Mindheim has described and installed. I plan to have individual sound in all of my locomotives. But when operating alone, it will be nice to listen to the chest thumping bass as if I were seated in the cab of the locomotive.
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There are a few more little tasks that need to be completed so I can get them off my plate and move forward. What really needs to happen; is that I get up the nerve to start painting the backdrop.
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I ordered the skirting from Premier Table Linens. It is attached with Velcro for ease of installation.
Here is the hinged information panel on the left side of the layout. It includes a Sony digital photo frame and a PVC sign. The right side panel will receive similar treatment with information and photos pertaining to the High Line.
I need to step it up with rodeo season fast approaching. I'm considering putting together a tool kit containing enough supplies to build rolling stock during idle times out on the road.
~Cowboy Up!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
"Along The Blue" #9 | 0 Comments - Click Here :
113 years ago today:
Summit County Journal; Feb 28, 1900;
Some More Storms.
Last Saturday's Journal vouchsafed the prediction that the C&S railroad would be free from snow and open for traffic on that day between Como and Leadville - the territory covered by the snow-blockade. That prediction was made in good faith, and would undoubtedly have proved true, were it not for the fatal disability to the rotary snow plow, ascending Boreas Pass from the Como side on that date.
On the way to Denver for repairs the big whirling machine collided with a locomotive and further disabled its vital parts, so that by the time repairs were completed the territory between Breckenridge and Como previously open for traffic was visited by another terrific northerner and blockaded for a period of three full days.
In the meantime the half dozen engines hemmed in between Boreas and Kokomo ran out of coal and all efforts to open the High Line were practically abandoned.
Today the rotary is endeavoring to plow its way through the snow in the Ten Mile, which when accomplished will be the means of relieving Frisco, Kokomo and Robinson, where they have not been favored with a mail since February 14.
No freight has passed over this end of the C&S system during the past two weeks, but the railroad people say that the system will be open by tonight.
A Pointer - It takes a good and substantial roadbed, first-class engines, plenty of fuel and a strong rotary plow to operate a railroad over the hazardous territory traversed by the High Line and without all these requisites the management cannot expect to perform even fairy satisfactory service.
Summit County Journal; Feb 28, 1900;
Some More Storms.
Last Saturday's Journal vouchsafed the prediction that the C&S railroad would be free from snow and open for traffic on that day between Como and Leadville - the territory covered by the snow-blockade. That prediction was made in good faith, and would undoubtedly have proved true, were it not for the fatal disability to the rotary snow plow, ascending Boreas Pass from the Como side on that date.
On the way to Denver for repairs the big whirling machine collided with a locomotive and further disabled its vital parts, so that by the time repairs were completed the territory between Breckenridge and Como previously open for traffic was visited by another terrific northerner and blockaded for a period of three full days.
In the meantime the half dozen engines hemmed in between Boreas and Kokomo ran out of coal and all efforts to open the High Line were practically abandoned.
Today the rotary is endeavoring to plow its way through the snow in the Ten Mile, which when accomplished will be the means of relieving Frisco, Kokomo and Robinson, where they have not been favored with a mail since February 14.
No freight has passed over this end of the C&S system during the past two weeks, but the railroad people say that the system will be open by tonight.
A Pointer - It takes a good and substantial roadbed, first-class engines, plenty of fuel and a strong rotary plow to operate a railroad over the hazardous territory traversed by the High Line and without all these requisites the management cannot expect to perform even fairy satisfactory service.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Roper Sez: | 9 Comments - Click Here :
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Gee whiz Pa... When you gonna post those layout photos you've been promising everybody?
So... I still haven't purchased that new camera that was on my to do list, but here are some recent pictures of the layout as it stands today anyways:
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I constructed the backdrop and wings out of Gatorboard. I found a local source with very reasonable pricing ( Laird Plastics ). They have offices nationwide, so check them out. All of my future benchwork and layout construction will be made using this material. The wings (view blocks) are hinged and can fold inward when being transported. Currently, only one of them is finished, with a sign and a digital photo frame containing a slideshow of prototype photographs. The other wing will have a similar setup.
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I have yet to order the skirting for the layout. But I found a commercial company ( Premier Table Linens ) that again, seems to offer reasonable rates. The red trim on the fascia will be the topic of a future blog post.
The backdrop is in desperate need of landscape painting. The blue base is very intense right now. Eventually very little of it will be visible, as a long ridge of mountains are directly behind Dickey and the sky will also portray a fairly cloudy day.
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It took a while to get it right, but I'm pleased with the LED lighting I installed in the aluminum angled valance. Many thanks for the recommendations from Ted Dilorio, Bernie Kempinski and Ronald Halma. I started with three warm white strips. But they were too yellow; so I ordered 3 bright white strips. They were too blue. But mixed together, I think they are just right. Its hard to tell since no scenery or finished models populate the layout yet. In the future I will add an RGB strip for special lighting effects. What a great and inexpensive way to light a layout!
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My next steps are to construct the two staging cassettes and install the skirting. Then the layout will be moved out into the family room, and my life will return to the workbench and building models again!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
"Along The Blue" #8 | 1 Comments - Click Here :
Photographic evidence of my progress will be posted in the following week or so. For now, please enjoy another installment of adventure and tragedy along the C&S, in all it's graphic and gory detail!
The Leadville Daily and Evening Chronicle; Feb 8, 1892;
KILLED ON THE CARS
W.O. Hook, a Brakeman on the South Park, Meets a Violent Death Early Sunday Morning.
Another accident, resulting in loss of life, occurred Sunday morning, making a total of three on the Denver and South Park Railroad during the past eight days. W.O. Hook, a brakeman, was struck on the head with a club from the effects of which he died three hours later. But very little is known of the accident, as Hook spoke only a few words afterward. It seems that when his train, a freight, was standing at a station on the east side of Breckenridge, about 4 O'clock Sunday morning, Hook left the caboose for the purpose of setting or loosening the brakes. On the mountain divisions of the various railroads it is customary with the brakemen to use a "club", in order that the brakes may more easily be tightened. The "club" is a piece of hard wood, nearly two inches in diameter and round in form. It is about two feet in length and weighs probably two pounds.
A few moments after the train arrived at Breckenridge, the door of the caboose was opened and Hook staggered in, remarking he had been struck with a club. He fell in a heap on one of the seats and passed immediately into a comatose condition. The other members of the crew were sitting in the caboose at the time; but thought nothing serious had happened and paid little attention to the matter. When the train arrived in Dickey however, one of the crew noticed that Hook was very pale and seemed to be very sick. He walked over to him and began shaking him but every effort to arouse him was in vain. An examination reveled a small lump immediately over the left temple, which was only discernible on the closest inspection.
Upon arrival in Leadville, it was found that the injured man had passed beyond all human aid. The body was at once removed to the Morgue by Coroner Nelson. An inquest was deemed unnecessary, but a post-mortem examination was performed by the South Park company's surgeon, result of which is as follows:
Removing the skull cap found no fracture of skull, but an extraravation of blood forming a clot of about four ounces by weight, which came from a rupture of the temporal-artery, the pressure of which upon the brain caused death.
The most plausible theory as to the cause of Hooks death is that he left his club in the brake wheel, and when air was released it made the wheel revolve quickly, throwing the club out and hitting him in the head.
Hook leaves a wife, at present residing in Fort Collins.
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