In Colorado City (now part of Colorado Springs). Colorado Midland until that RR ceased, then Midland Terminal until 1949. Still in use as a pottery salesroom last I knew, in good condition:

http://history.oldcolo.com/history/rese ... l#roundhs1

Last I knew, it was still Van Briggle Art Pottery. I grew up not too far from it. Part of the old RoW runs along 24. There used to be rail sticking out of the weeds through there. It was near a little creek. I doubt the rail is still there now...

It's gone, isn't it? It was demolished a year or two ago for real estate development. Historic preservationists tried and lost.

I'll be in Colorado Springs this week, I'll check...

I was in Colorado Springs a month ago and passed it. It still had signs up as a pottery place and didn't look abandoned. Was pressed for time and did not get a shot.

An inquiry on the NGDF group turned this up, though I'd like to hear of firsthand accounts:

http://www.ngdiscussion.net/cgi-bin/NGD ... read=83838

Sounds like the roundhouse is still standing, and will hopefully remain. I haven't been there in over 30 years, but there had been a lot of nearby highway building even back then. The old machine shop across the way was in use as the Ghost Town tourist trap at that time, and may still be. The MT route did not linger long after abandonment in 1949, and was quickly ripped up, with the original 2-8-0s cut up at the same time. Apparently the ex-military Whitcomb the demolition contractor used was the only diesel locomotive ever to ply the line, excluding the oddball railcars they had, some built from old Colorado Springs streetcars. Too bad, as it was a scenic route, with several tunnels between Manitou and Cripple Creek. Like the Maine narrow gauges, it probably would have survived if it lasted another decade. With the gambling attraction at Cripple Creek today, it might be a popular ride. I've heard part of the roadbed may now be a trail. A few years ago, one person proposed building an electric railway to Cripple Creek over the old CS&CCD Short Line route from Colorado Springs, for the gamblers.

As for the roundhouse, it will probably become offices or whatever if it survives, and I'm not sure what its "highest and best use" might be from our standpoint, considering so little remains from the two railroads that once used it. About the closest one could come to replicating a CM or MT locomotive might be one of the USATC 0-6-0s, which the MT had several of, converting three to Moguls with a pony truck. The USATC engines were sold to the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt line, but all were scrapped. Pretty hard to make the site look as it once did with so much changed around it today.

MT locomotives being scrapped in April 1949:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012666+OP-12666

USATC 2-6-0s with the machine shop (Ghost Town) and office building behind-1949:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012676+OP-12676

Last excursion, with the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, February 1949:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012698+OP-12698

Mogul 65 in 1948:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012677+OP-12677

Low-drivered Mikado 62, originally from the Copper River & North Western in Alaska. I've read that these went on to Mexico after the MT quit, but have never seen photos of them there. Very similar to the Valley RR's 40.

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012674+OP-12674

One of the odd ex-streetcar railbusses:

http://www.cripple-creek.org/cgi-bin/ph ... d=99%2D151

A brief CM/MT history here:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rstamm4/S ... _Page.html

CM/MT excursion car at the Colorado RR Museum:

http://www.crrm.org/railroad_equipment.htm

I've heard there is another CM passenger car in Las Vegas, but have never seen it.

The Golden Cycle Mill at Colorado City, the main reason for the railroad's existance after the CM abandoned. This mill processed ore from the Cripple Creek and Victor mines. Its need was eliminated when a new mill was built in the mining district. I believe the mill area is a historic site today, but not much is left.

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00073502+MCC-3502

Distant view of the CM shops sometime before the turn of the century:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00115625+H-625

Wheel pit for changing car wheels at Colorado City:

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?20030099+CHS-B99
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?20030100+CHS-B100

The Colorado City Historical Society's page on the Midland, with a larger version of the roundhouse photo:

http://history.oldcolo.com/history/genh ... ml#MIDLAND

You may be thinking of a similar structure in Nevada (Carson City? Virginia City?) - not a roundhouse, but an engine shed.

JAC

Bob -

Thanks for posting Otto Perry's photos of the Midland Terminal ex-USATC 2-6-0's. The easy way to tell the difference between the U.S. Army ALCO's and the U.S. Army LIMA's is evident in the two photos you included. The LIMA's has a single large sand dome ahead of the steam dome whereas the ALCO's had smaller sand domes in front and behind the steam dome.

I was surprised to hear that the MT had converted only three of the USATC 0-6-0's to Moguls. I knew there weren't a lot converted but I didn't realize it was only three.

Thanks again for the original roundhouse photo post and the subsequent photos of the MT and its Colorado Midland predecessor.

Les

I don't have a roster handy, but I think the MT bought six of these 0-6-0s. Only three were ever used, as far as I know, the 64, 65, and 66, converted to 2-6-0s. I don't know if the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line ever fired any of them up or not, as I think they had some USATCs of their own and may have just used them for parts. The engines were a good bargain for the numerous operations that got them. I've never seen any evidence that any went overseas like the 0-6-0Ts did.