Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad
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Denver Public Library, Western History Department. History Western Library, Public Denver W.H. Rau, publisher, from C.S. Ryland Collection. Ryland C.S. from publisher, Rau, W.H. pulls away from the Nathrop Station, by Joseph Collier, courtesy of the the of courtesy Collier, Joseph by Station, Nathrop the from away pulls 1880’s. late the in Canon Platte lower of defile A passenger and cargo train of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad Railroad Pacific & Park South Denver, the of train cargo and passenger A Denver South Park & Pacific 112 threads the narrow narrow the threads 112 Pacific & Park South Denver the original dream was never fully realized. realized. fully never was dream original the railroad system wholly contained within the state, state, the within contained wholly system railroad and the DSP&P became the largest narrow gauge gauge narrow largest the became DSP&P the and Although 335 miles of track were eventually laid laid eventually were track of miles 335 Although South Park & Pacific Railway Company in 1872. 1872. in Company Railway Pacific & Park South Denver’s leading businessmen formed The Denver Denver The formed businessmen leading Denver’s would outweigh the costs, Evans and a group of of group a and Evans costs, the outweigh would the challenge and convinced that the benefits benefits the that convinced and challenge the to achieve a functional rail line. Still undaunted by by undaunted Still line. rail functional a achieve to would require tunneling through tons of solid rock rock solid of tons through tunneling require would Excessive grades and treacherous winter weather weather winter treacherous and grades Excessive wagon roads and even foot trails seemed unlikely. unlikely. seemed trails foot even and roads wagon proposed railroad route crossed canyons where where canyons crossed route railroad proposed proved transportation to remote settlements, the the settlements, remote to transportation proved dream. Although some stage and freight companies companies freight and stage some Although dream. Almost everyone considered the vision an impossible impossible an vision the considered everyone Almost San Juan region, and reach the Pacific. Pacific. the reach and region, Juan San begin at Denver, cross the Rockies, open the rich rich the open Rockies, the cross Denver, at begin to be tapped, he envisioned a railroad that would would that railroad a envisioned he tapped, be to of these and other economic resources just waiting waiting just resources economic other and these of the trees and mountains. Excited by the potential potential the by Excited mountains. and trees the entrepreneurial spirit saw timber and minerals in in minerals and timber saw spirit entrepreneurial through Colorado’s majestic landscapes, his his landscapes, majestic Colorado’s through As Governor John Evans traveled on horseback horseback on traveled Evans John Governor As The Impossible Dream Impossible The THE The Company is fully alive to the advantages to be gained by the early Denver, South Park & completion and opening to traffic of Pacific Railroad This brochure was made possible through a partnership between HISTORY their various lines, and fully realize the Pike National Forest, Park County, and the Colorado Historical Society. For more information about the Denver South Park & Pacific Railway, contact the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden or the Colorado Railroad Association in Denver, or check the vast resources, the immense trade, your local library for the following references: The South Park Line: A Concise History by Chappell, and the quickening influence of Richardson & Hauck; published by the Colorado Railroad Museum, Box 10, Golden CO 80401 Denver South Park & Pacific by M.C. Poor; published by the railways upon industrial development Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, PO Box 2391, Denver CO 80201 Pictorial Supplement to Denver South Park & Pacific by R.H. —all of which will be assured by the Kindig, E.J. Haley, and M.C. Poor; published by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, PO Box 2391, Denver CO 80201 speedy completion of their lines. The USDA policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA- related activity should immediately contact the Secretary of South Park road will open to Denver Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. a new empire, whose resources, industries, and commercial importance will add untold wealth to Colorado, and new glories to its chief city – “Denver.” (Denver Daily Times – March 18, 1880) The old South Park Line, locomotive #197, Courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western History Department. Part way up Boreas Pass. Photo by Dick Jackson, Colorado Rail Annual No. 12. Denver Public Library, Western History Department. History Western Library, Public Denver W.H. Rau, publisher, from C.S. Ryland Collection. Ryland C.S. from publisher, Rau, W.H. pulls away from the Nathrop Station, by Joseph Collier, courtesy of the the of courtesy Collier, Joseph by Station, Nathrop the from away pulls 1880’s. late the in Canon Platte lower of defile A passenger and cargo train of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad Railroad Pacific & Park South Denver, the of train cargo and passenger A Denver South Park & Pacific 112 threads the narrow narrow the threads 112 Pacific & Park South Denver the original dream was never fully realized. realized. fully never was dream original the railroad system wholly contained within the state, state, the within contained wholly system railroad and the DSP&P became the largest narrow gauge gauge narrow largest the became DSP&P the and Although 335 miles of track were eventually laid laid eventually were track of miles 335 Although South Park & Pacific Railway Company in 1872. 1872. in Company Railway Pacific & Park South Denver’s leading businessmen formed The Denver Denver The formed businessmen leading Denver’s would outweigh the costs, Evans and a group of of group a and Evans costs, the outweigh would the challenge and convinced that the benefits benefits the that convinced and challenge the to achieve a functional rail line. Still undaunted by by undaunted Still line. rail functional a achieve to would require tunneling through tons of solid rock rock solid of tons through tunneling require would Excessive grades and treacherous winter weather weather winter treacherous and grades Excessive wagon roads and even foot trails seemed unlikely. unlikely. seemed trails foot even and roads wagon proposed railroad route crossed canyons where where canyons crossed route railroad proposed proved transportation to remote settlements, the the settlements, remote to transportation proved dream. Although some stage and freight companies companies freight and stage some Although dream. Almost everyone considered the vision an impossible impossible an vision the considered everyone Almost San Juan region, and reach the Pacific. Pacific. the reach and region, Juan San begin at Denver, cross the Rockies, open the rich rich the open Rockies, the cross Denver, at begin to be tapped, he envisioned a railroad that would would that railroad a envisioned he tapped, be to of these and other economic resources just waiting waiting just resources economic other and these of the trees and mountains. Excited by the potential potential the by Excited mountains. and trees the entrepreneurial spirit saw timber and minerals in in minerals and timber saw spirit entrepreneurial through Colorado’s majestic landscapes, his his landscapes, majestic Colorado’s through As Governor John Evans traveled on horseback horseback on traveled Evans John Governor As The Impossible Dream Impossible The THE The Company is fully alive to the advantages to be gained by the early Denver, South Park & completion and opening to traffic of Pacific Railroad This brochure was made possible through a partnership between HISTORY their various lines, and fully realize the Pike National Forest, Park County, and the Colorado Historical Society. For more information about the Denver South Park & Pacific Railway, contact the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden or the Colorado Railroad Association in Denver, or check the vast resources, the immense trade, your local library for the following references: The South Park Line: A Concise History by Chappell, and the quickening influence of Richardson & Hauck; published by the Colorado Railroad Museum, Box 10, Golden CO 80401 Denver South Park & Pacific by M.C. Poor; published by the railways upon industrial development Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, PO Box 2391, Denver CO 80201 Pictorial Supplement to Denver South Park & Pacific by R.H. —all of which will be assured by the Kindig, E.J. Haley, and M.C. Poor; published by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, PO Box 2391, Denver CO 80201 speedy completion of their lines. The USDA policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA- related activity should immediately contact the Secretary of South Park road will open to Denver Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. a new empire, whose resources, industries, and commercial importance will add untold wealth to Colorado, and new glories to its chief city – “Denver.” (Denver Daily Times – March 18, 1880) The old South Park Line, locomotive #197, Courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western History Department. Part way up Boreas Pass. Photo by Dick Jackson, Colorado Rail Annual No. 12. Making the Dream Come True The Dream Lives and Dies Connecting Denver to the booming mining camps of South Park was the driving force Although famously quoted as “damned slow pulling and pretty rough riding”, the DSP&P showed a considerable profit during its first five years to get the DSP&P underway. Railroad investors eagerly bought railroad bonds expecting of operation. After 1883, the railroad failed to generate revenues to meet the interest on outstanding bonds. The bust of the Colorado mining to share in the fortunes hidden in mineral resources at Fairplay, and later Leadville and boom was a major factor.