Wagon Wheel Gap Route

and the

Denver & Rio Grande Railway

STEAM POWER

for Wagon Wheel Gap Route

This locomotive's trip actually started in ALCO Shops in 1920 when it was completed and sent to The Florida East Coast Railway.  There it took passengers out of Miami up and down the Florida coast all the way to Key West.  Sold in the 1940's to United States Sugar Co., where it saw service at both the Pahokee and Clewiston plants of that company. It worked that job until the 1950's when diesel power replaced it.  A quiet few years fell on this proud locomotive until it was put back into service on a New Jersey tourist train.

With the addition of FEC #148 the D&RG Ry. now has proper power to run up to Wagon Wheel Gap and north.

Follow the Saga From Walsenburg over La Veta Pass to Monte Vista

Early afternoon Saturday 19 March - Checking the load before movement...

Five Engines to pull one Steamer ? - We also had about 28 other cars..

Easing down the pass at 9,000 ft +

Arrival into Monte Vista 8:30 PM ( photos from the next day )

Awaiting transfer onto D&RG Ry Siding

Crew hard at work installing the switch onto the siding....

Friday a week later, unloading begins on D&RG Ry. siding

First set the trucks, yes that is snow...

Then place the Tender...

Last off is the Locomotive..

A gentle push and rear truck is aligned

A shove and the Main Drivers follow

Engine, cars, caboose and snow  next  morning...

As we approached Alamosa Saturday Evening we saw  this Sunset...

all went well...

Web Site E-Mail Address is Wagon-Wheel-Gap@hotmail.com

Also see our History of San Luis Valley & it's Railroads web site:

Wagon-Wheel-Gap.freehomepage.com

It's still under construction but you may find it interesting.

This is not an official web site of the D&RG Ry. Historical Foundation. 

It is a private informational site by Richard Cutter who is solely responsible for content and

content is not submitted to, approved nor controlled by the D&RG Historical Foundation.

Unless otherwise Noted

Historical Photographs 1800's to 1940's from the National Archives

Photos, Videos and Text are Copyrighted by Richard Cutter

   - Photos can be used for non-commercial use if plainly identified as to copyright holder and location, such as "at Wagon-Wheel-Gap-Route, Colorado"

The name "Wagon Wheel Gap Route" refers to the section of the Creede Branch of the Old "Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad" that extends from South Fork to Creede Colorado, the name was developed and used for this website and is considered as our trademark.

Last updated: July 03, 2005

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