When at the Black Hills Central, 1960s. Now at the Georgetown Loop, out of service after brief operations there, with tender from C&S 74. No. 9's tender said to be at Chama, NM.

http://cgi.ebay.com/4512ND-RAILROAD-PHO ... otohosting

C&S #9 is now at Mammoth Locomotive Works in Palisade, CO. John Braun & Co. are working on her to get her ready for display/operation in Breckenridge, CO.

As of last July, #9's tender was still at Uhrich Locomotive Works in Strasburg, CO.

My story of "The Return of Colorado & Southern Number 9" has a sad postscript. See the end of the thread over on RailroadPhotoEssays.com.

The Return of Colorado & Southern Number 9
http://railroadglorydsys.com/CS9

Operation? Please elucidate.

Whats with the great big pipe, running along the side of the smokebox and up to the stack?

A version of a spark arrestor, which was supposed to deposit surviving hot embers down to the railhead to be crushed by the wheels. The C&S was the only widespread use of this system, which probably testifies as to its actual effectiveness.

You mean to tell me the Ridgway spark arrester was supposed to put the cinders on the rail to be snuffed out by the weight of the wheels, sort of like stomping out a cigarette butt? All these years, I thought the idea was simply to direct them down into the ballast, which was mostly composed of cinders anyway. I believe the Durango & Silverton experimented with Ridgways on a couple of their engines a few years ago, but they're gone now.

The plan is to operate #9 under (air or?) low-pressure steam in Breckenridge. Trackage is proposed to be near the original R-O-W in Breck, perhaps extended from the tracks of the current rotary snowplow display.

Note: it's been a year or so since I was in Breckenridge, so I can't say what the display looks like now. At the time I was there, IIRC, the rotary, rotary tender, #111's tender, and a C&S boxcar were on the display track. #111 (of Central America and Sundown & Southern heritage) is presently at Uhrich Locomotive Works in Strasburg, CO.

My sources indicate that the Colorado Historical Society will be satisfied if the engine is simply moved about occasionally to keep the parts lubricated, and that the engine will be displayed, out in the weather, in a parking lot. I think all discussion of operation under any kind of power has been dismissed. The city wants the engine there by their upcoming 150th anniversary. A roof to cover it has been discussed, but nothing definite decided.

A sad end to my joyful story (see below).

Glen Brewer

The Return of Colorado & Southern Number 9
http://www.railroadphotoessays.com/foru ... .php?t=791