leadville railroad route map leadville railroad route map

2. In 1891, it was replaced by the Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel which was at a lower altitude. One of the Rio Grande's giant 2-8-8-2's (L-131), #3607, is seen here between assignments at the Minturn, Colorado terminal on August 14, 1954. 220 Westwoods Drive. From classic 1950s-era luxury liners to narrow gauge . Not much of the narrow gauge survives today. high-altitude bedroom community of Leadville . The Silverton Route survived abandonment and today continues on as the very popular Durango & Silverton Railroad. The map below outlines parking locations and shuttle pickup spots. You will give the mountain respect, and earn respect from all. All finisher hoodies will be custom printed and shipped directly to your door. Rio Grande GP7 #5106 in Pueblo, Colorado during the 1970s. The next day standard-gauge locomotives began hauling the loads. Each trip lasts 2 and 1/2 hours and provides ample oppertunities for photos. No crewing outside of official crew locations Outward Bound, Pipeline & Twin Lakes, Mayqueen. The FW&D was established as a separate company because Texas law required that railroads operating within its borders must be incorporated within that state. Ride the Leadville scenic train, and step back in time to when mining and railroading were a large part of Leadvilles economy. The Hagerman Tunnel was completed in 1887. The portion of the line from Leadville to Hagerman Pass provided the setting for some of the finest railroad imagery ever taken. The Colorado Midland Railway was born in 1883. Hop aboard the Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad for the most relaxing and scenic Rocky Mountain experience. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site (another fine resource). The narrow gauge rail into town was completed on June 22, 1878, and shortly after, a train full of . Alas, in 2013 the site closed. Be courteous to our local community and residents, and other crews, when parking. Competing on behalf of one of our official charity partners not only guarantees you a spot in the race, but also provides you the opportunity to make an impact in the community. For the meantime, I've broken things down into two basic categories: Narrow Gauge Lines. tunnel over the pass opened at an elevation of 10,239 feet. Map 3. herald is likewise one of the most recognized of all time and people Awards shipping can be purchased here. Denver-Metro Rail Lines: 2006. In 1882 the Royal Gorge route became a transcontinental rail link between Denver and Salt Lake. A. long with the Silverton Route the Rio Grande's narrow-gauge line between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado also survived. Denver-Metro Rail Lines: 1976. A true Colorado gem. One hundred miles of extreme Colorado Rockies terrain from elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. Ed Fulcomer photo. Try the Leadville Railroad! Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America and has a rich history of mining. several miles of the D&RGW's former narrow-gauge trackage in This included the Clear Creek branch. For the meantime, I've broken things down into two basic categories: D&RGW Overall System Map - Not all smaller lines shown. Rio Grande F7A #5571 and #5574, along with four F7B's, are on the north end of the Apsen Branch at Glenwood Springs, Colorado on May 15, 1966. It was just 2,550 feet in length and while it contained a 3% grade on the westward approach the eastward heading contained just a 1.5% grade. In 1890, the Union Pacific transferred U&N Engines No. To alleviate this issue the D&RG began looking at the prospect of All proceeds from the evening benefit those two charities; learn more about them and their missions here: Special guests will include Ken Chlouber and Merilee Maupin, Founders of the Leadville Trail 100 and the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation and Kimo Seymour, Executive Director of the Life Time Foundation. Understandably then, these segments will be more biased towards the later, standard gauge network. We have updated our deferral policies for the 2023 Leadville Trail 100 Run. Quartz to Gunnison survived until 1936 and the Baldwin Branch lasted until 1954. Aid stations do experience parking congestion. One of Colorado's first tourist attractions, this spectacular three-foot narrow gauge, Georgetown Loop Railroad was considered as one of the engineering marvels of its times. The railroad is also attempting to sway the Surface Transportation Board into denying the KCVN's attempt to acquire the property through legal wrangling that insures rail service. The Colorado Midland Railway (standard gauge) did not run lines into Leadville until August 31, 1887. Hypothermia easily occurs with a combination of decreasing temperatures, wind and precipitation. The Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad travels north along the Arkansas River Valley, it raises up 1,000 feet off the valley floor so that you will have some spectacular views of Freemont Pass and the two tallest peaks in Colorado, Mt. Our conductor narrates a history of Leadville and Railroading on the way so you can learn something new too! Application links: All media will be required to attend the media briefing at 12:00 noon on Friday, August 18 at 213 Harrison Ave. Additional media inquiries can be directed to Jordan Titus. Our races aim to be Zero Waste. After October 31st, buckles and awards will no longer be able to be shipped. During the 1870's, mining was big business in the Centennial State and both railroads went to war to access the lucrative silver mines around Leadville. More Videos Royal Gorge Route Railroad - Canon City, Colorado. ** Please note, there are no changes for 2022, but there will be a change in volunteer hour requirements in 2023. We have beautiful scenery, heated lounge cars, and delicious hot snacks and drinks! It is well worth the drive to see! Colorado railroads are known mostly for three things; flat plains, the Rocky Mountains, and narrow-gauge railroading (even today!). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Whether the route ever sees trains again will likely be dependent on the demand for rail in the future, as Moffat Tunnel is currently near capacity with more than two-dozen trains passing through it every day. E-mail: ahra@state.co.us. 260-265 to its Colorado-based Denver, Leadville, and Gunnison Railroad, where the original engine number was retained until the Colorado and Southern assumed operation of all Colorado-based Union Pacific narrow gauge lines. Its speed-lettering Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad - Leadville, Colorado. Relive the golden age of railroads and discover a Colorado few get to see on vintage rail. Located just off I-70 and only 45 miles west of Denver, the Georgetown Loop Railroad and Mining Park is one of Colorado's most authentic living museums and historically immersive experiences. At the end of 1970 it operated 692 miles of road on 1116 miles of track; that year it reported 1,365million ton-miles (1,993milliontkm) of revenue freight. The Colorado Central Railroad and Cheyenne and Northern Railway were brought together to form the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway in 1890. While initially wishing to outright abandon the line realizing a competitor such as then Burlington Northern Santa Fe may step in and purchase the route the railroad decided to retain the line, which it still owns today. It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. Colorado Pacific Railroad is owned by KCVN, which is owned by New York City high-rise developer Sheldon Solow and his son . The Uinta Basin Railway project is still in the planning stages. interchange lucrative traffic. We do not have a senior discount. Colorado Scenic Rails. The train by then was so well known that Amtrak did not hesitate to keep it in service when the Rio Grande finally did elect to relinquish the train in the early 1980s and even honored it by renaming it back to theCalifornia Zephyrin 1983. Track Information. Even more famous than the tunnel was the introduction of a joint passenger train by the Burlington, Rio Grande, and Western Pacific in 1949 known as theCalifornia Zephyrdeliberately routed through the mountains so that passengers could witness the stunning beauty offered over the Rio Grande's main line through the Rockies. Any attempt to understand these lines must start to break the network down into some sort of groups. That year the Denver Pacific Railway & Telegraph Company was chartered to complete a main line between Denver and Cheyenne, Wyoming where it would establish a connection with the growing Union Pacific system. This new Moffat Tunnel Subdivision: Former Denver and Rio Grande Western mainline west through the Rockies running to Grand Junction and eventually over Soldier Summit into Salt Lake City. Look for recycling and compost bins at every aid station and start/finish. We will not sell or give your email address or personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Ideal for ATVs and OHVs, the route takes off from Turquoise Lake, crosses the Continental Divide, and passes through two abandoned tunnels. Incredible views of Colorado's two highest peaks, colorful wildflowers and majestic aspen groves. One of the Rio Grande's giant 2-8-8-2's (L-131), #3607, is seen here between assignments at the Minturn, Colorado terminal on August 14, 1954. that when its parent company Rio Grande Industries purchased the SP in One of the B&O's original streamliners, the Abraham Lincoln, operated during its brief ownership of the Alton Railroad in the Midwest. It would later merge into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981. Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. You'll follow one of the first rail routes to Colorado's mining district in the silver rush days, the old Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado & Southern line. It was later removed west of Poncha Junction and standard-gauged as a short stub serving the mine. Parking and overall congestion in Leadville will continue to be a crucial topic for everyone this season and for our presence in Leadville moving forward. With UP now owning both the SP and D&RGW lines it had no use for the route as all traffic movements could be handled through Moffat Tunnel. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Union Pacific Railroad operates local trains almost daily, which is mostly . Check the Parking & Shuttles tab for a complete shuttle schedule and map. If you are a doctor, nurse, or EMT and would like to help in this capacity, please email Chris Yeager of Lake County Search and rescue for more information and to sign up as a medical volunteer. This will remain unchanged in 2023 and no pacers OR crew will be allowed access to Winfield. $94.00. The proposal was first announced in November, 2019 as the group is interested in running grain shipments over the corridor. This traffic would then work its way to Gulf Coast refineries. Ed Fulcomer photo. Explore this 6.1-mile loop trail near Leadville, Colorado. Defer into the following year, and pay a deferral fee of 40% of the entry fee. continue to flock to its scenic routes to travel trains such as the California Zephyrand the Durango & Silverton, The railroad map represents the routes through lines and porters for transportation purpose. Intentional littering on the course will be grounds for disqualification. Mosquito Pass was the original very rough road into Leadville in the late 1800s, and provides a history lesson and incredible views in the middle of the Colorado Rockies. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site (another fine resource). Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 26 min to complete. The Colorado Midland Railway (reporting mark CM),[1] incorporated in 1883, was the first standard gauge railroad built over the Continental Divide in Colorado. We established a new parking plan in 2022 and the 2023 plan will be very similar. Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half Marathon, Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva. Expect sunny mornings and afternoon showers, and be prepared for the Colorado high countrys volatile weather. If you are researching anything EMD related please visit this page first. . In order to alleviate our impact and continue to permit our event over Hope Pass and into Winfield, we have worked closely with the USFS on an updated plan: Winfield: No crew, spectators or pacers will be allowed in Winfield. Carleton bought the CM, he planned to remedy this situation by extending the railroad across Utah to Salt Lake City, but he was unable to do so, relying instead on his business connections to obtain cars consigned for shipment east at Grand Junction. The first line to close was part of the Gunnison Line between Hancock and Quartz. It's narrow-gauge operations, or what remained of them anyway (over the years the once almost exclusive narrow-gauge system had been converted to standard gauge), was centered primarily in the southern part of Colorado and northern New Mexico. dormant although it remains under UP ownership. Leadville Traill 100 RUN Camp + Entry Package June 23th June 25th, 2023. **NOTE: NEW LOCATION** Drop bags must be brought to the Leadville Retail Store: Leadville Race Series Charity Partner Program, Follow driving directions from the start here, National Forest Photography & Filming Request. Help us keep them pristine. However, on June 27, 1906, the Gilpin had been sold to the Colorado and Southern.[1]. Today, she is operable at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. While the Midland had no choice but to turn over westbound traffic to the D&RGW at Grand Junction, the competing line had no such incentive; it could move eastbound traffic over its own line to any spot the Midland served. * Colorado's first operational railroad was theDenver Pacific Railway & Telegraph Company. Pulled by a . While the first line would not appear in Colorado until over 40 years after the Baltimore & Ohio was incorporated the state's rail network rapidly expanded after this time. This guide highlights organizations in Michigan hosting train rides during the fall season. Even after the boring of the Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel, much of this trackage was above nine thousand feet, in a district of Colorado where the snow often does not melt entirely until June. Pacers are allowed starting at mile 62 Twin Lakes Aid Station inbound. Proceed past Ivanhoe Lake and continue up the sweeping curve that is the railroad grade to the tunnel entrance. Trains magazine named this one of America's . Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of 100% of the entry fee. The branch originally ran for 150 miles to Lone Pine, CA until in the early 1980's when SP filed for abandonment of roughly 100 miles of the line from Lone Pine, CA to Searles, CA. American-Rails.com collection. Quadrangle map: Leadville North Inventory number BH 11850 (Bridgehunter.com ID) Categories . Major Branch lines were the Baldwin branch between Gunnison and Baldwin; the Keystone from Dickey to Keystone; the Blackhawk branch between Forks Creek and Central City; the Alma Branch from Como to Alma; and the Morrison Branch from Denver to Morrison. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad; Pikes Peak Cog Railroad; Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad; Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad; . Norfolk and Western 611 is one of the railroad's beautiful 4-8-4 J's. The 100-mile out-and-back course is in the midst of the Colorado Rockies. Baltimore & Ohio's fleet of 4-8-2's (Class T) were used in heavy passenger service and occasionally on freight assignments. 1-866-386-3936. Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad Co takes passengers for a meandering 2.5 hour ride along old Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado & Southern lines to the Continental Divide.As the train makes its way through the San Isabel National Forest conductors regale the guests with Colorado history and anecdotes, so it is entertaining and educational! Note due to backcountry terrain, there may be lag time on SMS alerts based on cell signal availability. No camping allowed. The last Colorado and Southern narrow-gauge train, pulled by engine 76, ran the 28 mile roundtrip on August 25, 1943. Situated at an elevation of 10,152 feet (3094 m), Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States. Freight was indeed diverted all through the remainder of 1897 and 1898, leaving the Busk Tunnel Railway without any source of revenue. This recently-delivered set of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy FT's (#103-A through #103-D) lead a 126-car freight westward near Keenesburg, Colorado on May 31, 1944. Buy your ticket today! Our conductor narrates a history of Leadville and Railroading on the way so you can learn something new too! Note: Belt buckles will be given away in the finish chute & f. Hang tags should be visible and will have your bib number on it. If you have any problems or questions regarding your purchase please contact us at 719-486-3936 or 1-866-386-3936. The Midland (as it was colloquially known) was an extraordinarily difficult railroad to operate, in large part because it had very little level track. grades it had to find a cost Bring your family and friends for a narrow gauge train ride, book a real silver mine tour, or learn how to pan for gold. 1950s RR film promoting the Royal Gorge Route that also went through Tennessee Pass. Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race Option 1: Receive a $197.50 refund. The dual-gauge third rail that had allowed narrow-gauge trains to run between Denver and Golden was also removed. Come up and see us this summer - season opens Saturday, May 23. Today this line is home to the likewise well known Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Last modified on May 17, 2011, at 04:14 PM. Remaining Water towers are the French Gulch tank near Leadville, Bakers tank near Breckenridge, and Halfway tank near Alpine Tunnel. . Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of $395. American-Rails.com collection. At the Continental Divide northwest of Denver, the Denver and Rio Grande Western completed the famous Moffat Tunnel in 1928, some 6.1-miles in length and bypassing the torturous Rollins Pass, over 11,000 feet in height! The Colorado Midland had In 1998 a gentleman by the name ofAndre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. Colorado's 3-foot lines are legendary, names like the Denver & Rio Grande, Rio Grande Southern, Colorado & Southern, and Denver South Park & Pacific. It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. In 1998 a gentleman by the name ofAndre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. At its summit, the pass reaches 11,925 feet and . While it still serves Amtrak'sCalifornia ZephyrandSouthwest Chief, the station's future include it becoming the city's hub of its ever-growing commuter rail system. Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives. This event is held on the San Isabel National Forest under a special use permit. Rocky Mountain Scenic Train Rides. Besides the Rio Grande's famed narrow-gauge lines two other future ventures would earn the railroad legendary status. 1900 map of the Colorado Midland Railway, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Railway Equipment and Publication Company, Colorado Midland Railway A Short History, The Colorado Midland Railway (a detailed history), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Midland_Railway&oldid=1116547421, Former Class I railroads in the United States, Articles needing additional references from May 2021, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 9206,9209,9208,9210,9215,9217,9298,9300,9302. John J. Hagerman gained control of the Colorado Midland Railway Company in June 1885. The CM&P stated it would lease 163.1 miles of the Tennessee Pass between milepost 171.9 at Parkdale, Colorado to Milepost 335.0 near Sage, Colorado. In 1880 it merged with Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific forming a new Union Pacific Railway. There are five surviving Locomotives: 2-8-0 C&S #31 (Baldwin, 1880) is at the Colorado Railroad Museum painted as Denver Leadville and Gunnison 191, 2-8-0 C&S#71 (pictured above) (Baldwin, 1897) is on display in Central City, Colorado, 2-6-0 C&S #9 (Cooke, 1884) is on display in Breckenridge, Colorado, 2-8-0 C&S #60 (Rhode Island, 1886) is on display in Idaho Springs, Colorado, and 2-8-0 C&S #74 (Brooks, 1898) is currently on display at the Colorado Railroad Museam in Golden, Colorado. All entrants were notified of their status via email. However, the route gained new importance after the Southern Pacific merger of 1988 due to the increased traffic coming from western points like the ports of California. When the Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel was built in 1891, railroad engineers were in need of a convenient route for Colorado's Midland Railroad to replace the higher-elevation Hagerman tunnel. The Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel was a shorter route and at a lower elevation than its predecessor, which made it much easier to maintain. Robert LeMassena photo. While the railroad officially Just type in a town or city and click on the timeline of maps at the bottom of the page! Also, here's a list of locations on the D&RG (W) lines that have individual pages. Drive from Aspen to Leadville. Narrow gauge. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his, If you are researching anything EMD related please visit, If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the, Abraham Lincoln (Train): Ride, Schedule, Consist, Timetable, Norfolk & Western 611: Excursions, Restoration, Background. that reached Salt Lake City) and around the same time its original $260,000. Mayqueen For 2023 and beyond, no crew & spectator parking will be allowed at Mayqueen. In May 1941 the last of the Clear Creek lines began being torn up between Golden, Colorado and Idaho Springs. Fly from Denver (DEN) to Aspen (ASE) DEN - ASE. Standard Gauge Lines. Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 #20 lays over along the D&RGW at Alamosa, Colorado in 1952. American-Rails.com collection. Crewing outside of these 4 locations is against official race rules and may result in disqualification of your runner. When Union Pacific went bankrupt in 1893 they were separated from the Union Pacific and united with the Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway and others, by Frank Trumbull to form the Colorado and Southern Railroad in 1898. The shuttle locations are under 1 mile from the race start and will run efficiently and quickly to get you to where you need to be! Crews should allow adequate time to walk to aid stations, expect crowds and congestion. #AllAboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad! This segment was eventually abandoned by the 1980s. Note: If you cannot pick up your award, we will mail it to you for a small fee. Please call your awesome humans to meet you in Twin Lakes. A spectacular series of winter storms started on 24 Jan 1899, dropping feet of heavy snow onto the Hagerman Pass route. Montrose, and Grand Junction in 1883. Just keep going past the trail to the east portal, go through Hagerman Pass, come back down to the Colorado Midland Railroad grade, turn left ( you will probably have to drive a few yards down the grade to find a place to turn around). Once Union Pacific purchased the SP in 1996 this newfound life for the pass came to an end. CREW DONTS GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION. Sold. Restaurants near Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad: (0.30 mi) City on a Hill Coffee & Espresso (0.39 mi) High Mountain Pies (0.31 mi) Quincy's Steak & Spirits (0.31 mi) Treeline Kitchen (0.22 mi) Subway; View all restaurants near Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad on Tripadvisor 118 W 2nd St #H1. The value of the line ebbed and flowed Grab onto this package deal throughout the regular summer train season. This route was just north of Denver and allowed for a much more direct connection with Salt Lake City after the D&RGW completed the Dotsero Cutoff. Railroad tunnel under Tennessee Pass north of Leadville on closed Union Pacific RR. Continue to check back through race day for any final logistics updates. The railroad reached its final length in 1884 when it chartered the Georgetown, Breckenridge & Leadville Railway to stretch west of Georgetown and the small mining town of Graymont. Just ten years later the DPR&TC became another division of the UP system. To earn the coveted silver and gold of the Leadville Trail 100 beltbuckle, you must finish the race in under 30 hours for the small buckle and under 25 hours for the big buckle. 1-866-386-3936. Setup permitted at Sunrise on 8/20 DAY USE ONLY, all day use subject to USFS fees. After this line was opened the state's rail network quickly exploded to over 1,500 miles by 1880. He received it, and the Colorado Midland Railway ceased operations in 1918. American-Rails.com collection. We do offer a military discount for active and non-active military . Majority is on forest trails with some mountain roads. With a station that sits at 10,151 feet, you're guaranteed elevated fun with the Leadville Railroad's winter train rides. For all the details on the selection process for the LT100 100 lottery, head on over to our lottery page here. Alas, in 2013 the site closed. All Life Time, Inc (Life Time) events and activities are subject to changes, alterations, and/or elimination in Life Times sole discretion as it evaluates and works to provide a safe event for all participants. Please note athletes must be 18 years or older on the day of the race to participate in the Leadville Trail 100 Run. The railroad reaches Idaho Springs in June, thanks to financier Jay Gould who controlled the Union Pacific (UP) and supplied the necessary funds to complete both the route to Idaho Springs and the later route to Georgetown, completed in August 1877. The Morrison Branch was removed in 1926. American-Rails.com collection. Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: 2 1:30 PM Winter Express This article briefly highlights where you can take a train in Indiana to view the fall colors each autumn. Fly, drive 4h 24m. **NOTE: NEW LOCATION** Drop bags must be brought to the Leadville Retail Store: 316 Harrison Ave. Our Leadville Race Series qualifier events provide a chance for runners to earn a coin for the LT100 Run. Incorporated in 1867 it was designed to link Denver by rail after the Union Pacific elected to bypass the Frontier town on its way to meet the Central Pacific. Robert Le Massena photo. There will be recycling/compost containers at all full aid stations and at the start/finish line. The information includes original numbers, serials, and order numbers. Youll follow one of the first rail routes to Colorados mining district in the silver rush days,the old Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado & Southern line. (However, the standard gauge segment still exists today to serve the Coors Brewery.) This included the Blackhawk branch. D&RG was able to complete the new line to its previous connection at See untouched wilderness! The waiver can be filled out at one of the official checkpoints above or you may print one. Union Pacific last year declined Colorado Pacific's offer of $10 million. Check our 2022 special rides: Wildflower rides and the Devils Tail BBQ special. During the race, it could rain, hail, and even snow. Along with the Durango & Silverton and C&T narrow-gauge operations the state boosts several other museums and tourist railroads. The "CWCX" stood for Cheyenne Wells Cargill. Robert Eastwood, Jr. photo. To learn more about how we treat your information, please see our. The lead unit, #3552, was built as Norfolk & Western #1724 and acquired by the D&RGW in 1943. 719.486.3936 or 1.866.386.3936. www.leadville-train.com. The race where legends are created and limits are tested. At the outbreak of the First World War, the road's chief mechanical officer proposed the immediate construction of a new class of engines to handle the surging traffic, but the state of the road's physical plant (which urgently needed both maintenance and upgrading) was such that he limited his proposal to a copy of the D&RGW's C-48 class locomotives, a design that was thirteen years old and approaching obsolescence.