What were the 4 converted gondolas/open air cars and
what became of them? I've checked the C&S roster, but
don't find them. CY p.s. Thanks again for the
wealth of info about a event over 50 years ago. Also
what details are known about the D&RGW train of 1949.
--- "William Arthur Gibson Jr." <artg216@cox.net>
wrote:
> --- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, Bob Webber <no17@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Written 6 years back. Note that in 1949, the Rio
> Grande train was
> > run. The C&S train was run but not as often.
> >
> > In 1948, a railroad fair was held on Chicago's
> lakefront. A narrow
> > gauge railroad ran alongside and around all of the
> modern railroad
> > equipment and displays at the fair.
> >
> > The Burlington Railroad, as part of their 100th
> anniversary,
> offered
> > to supply the train. The Burlington gathered up
> some "retired"
> > narrow gauge equipment and sent it to their Aurora
> Shops to be
> > reconditioned. Sent to Chicago were C&S no. 9
> (2-6-0, currently
> > residing in Silver Plume, CO) and 6 cars. The
> railroad was given
> the
> > name Deadwood Central. The locomotive, kept its
> original number
> 9,
> > but was named Chief Crazy Horse. The Mail Express
> Car (originally
> C&S
> > RPO no. 13) was named "Buffalo Bill". Four
> Open-Air Observation
> Cars
> > (gondolas with seats and an awning roof) were
> named Calamity Jane,
> > Poker Alice, Wild Bill Hickok, and Sitting Bull.
> The Office
> > Car (originally C&S No. 911) was the only piece
> of equipment that
> > didn't follow the South Dakota naming theme - it
> was named
> Leadville
> > for the "world famous Colorado mining town".
> Numerous reference
> > books also place coach 76 at this fair, and the
> paint chips from
> that
> > car seems to bear that out.
> >
> > The Deadwood Central even issued a timetable.
> Southbound trains
> were
> > to leave each station "often" and they were to
> arrive "on
> > time." There were 21 stops in all - everywhere
> from San
> Francisco,
> > to the Moffat Tunnel - and at a wide variety of
> exhibits in
> between.
> >
> > The fair went on for a second year, but the
> Deadwood Central was
> not
> > included. In its place was the Cripple Creek &
> Tin Cup Railroad -
> > equipment provided by the Denver & Rio Grande
> Western. That
> > equipment survived the fair and is still around
> today as well -
> led
> > by No. 268 displayed in Gunnison.
> >
> > No. 9 was a fair veteran, having also participated
> at the New York
> > World's Fair of 1939. One of the more common
> photos of it shows
> the
> > locomotive at the head of a two-car train in
> Denver, just prior to
> > shipment to New York. A Burlington Route herald
> adorns the
> tender,
> > the black is still glossy, and the graphite smoke
> box and firebox
> are
> > bright, without a hint of cinders. One of the cars
> is RPO no. 13,
> and
> > the second car is coach no. 76. In Poor's book,
> he mentions that
> the
> > no. 13 and no. 76 went to the New York fair as
> well as to the
> Chicago
> > fair, even though the program and timetable of the
> Chicago's fair
> > does not indicate np. 76 was there. We can thank
> these railroad
> fairs
> > for the continued existence of the locomotive, RPO
> and business
> car
> > and coach no. 76.
> >
> > That business car 911 survived at all is a wonder.
> It was
> supposed
> > to be scrapped in the '30s. However, the cost to
> scrap the car was
> > too much, so it was decided to retain the car.
> >
> > What of this equipment today? Well, as stated
> previously, engine
> > no.9, and cars 13, 76 and 911 are all with us
> still. The
> equipment
> > originally was sent from the fair to the Black
> Hills, where it was
> > supposed to be run on a tourist railroad. After
> sitting idle for
> > years, the equipment was returned to Colorado.
> Restoration and
> > display of the equipment is planned and eventual
> operation is very
> > possible. The Colorado Historical Society is
> responsible for the
> > restoration. The equipment will be stored in a
> "glass case" at
> > Silver Plume (the equipment must be stored out of
> the elements in
> > order to obtain the grants needed for
> restoration). Coach 76 also
> is
> > slated for restoration - and this car is just
> about ready for
> paint.
> > The extensive rebuild of the sides of 76 was
> because the interior
> > side structure between the inner and outer walls
> had rotted
> > away. Funds are in place for the restoration of
> 76 and 13. Funds
> > still have to be raised for 911.
> >
> >
> > At 01:27 AM 10/29/2006, Cyril T. Svobodny wrote:
> > >During 1948 & 49 the CB&Q as well as most all
> other railroads in
> this
> > >country had displays at the Chicago Railroad
> Fair. Part of the
> Q's
> > >display was C&S #9 a 2-6-0, bag/mail 12, coach
> 76, and bus car
> 911.
> > >These were all narrow gauge. I recall a old time
> Q steam train
> running
> > >thru ther grounds giving rides. But is was
> longer than 3 cars.
> Any
> > >info would be appreciated. I have several 2-1/2
> square photos
> from the
> > >fair including the end of the oldtime depot, some
> of the train,
> and
> > >other items around the grounds. One of the cars
> was
> named "Deadeye
> > >Dick". Can't tell if it was a woody or steel
> made to look like
> wood.
> > >I was only 6 years old at the time(1948), the
> memory is fuzzy.
> >
> > Bob Webber
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> >
> I can assure you that the coach 76 was at Chicago
> both in 1948 and
> 1949. I rode it both years. Previously I had ridden
> it from Denver
> to Leadville and return in 1937, as had my Dad. I
> was interested in
> riding it as a 12 and 13 year old, because on the
> 1937 trip, I was
> only 9 months old and had no memory of said ride.
> Art Gibson
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________________
Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates
(http://voice.yahoo.com)
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:CBQ-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:CBQ-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|