Photo - 641 at Leadville

tomgears · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:58 pm

Saw this on my Flickr feed. Not sure how recent it is.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenm_61/3906188410/

Jim Lundquist · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:16 pm

Looks turn of the Century (two ago, actually).

HOD Bill · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:45 pm

C&S 641 last ran Sept 12, 1962 from Climax Mine back to Leadville with 2 beat up gondolas, 1 box car and a caboose. The last steam operation on the line. She was replaced by Burlington SD-9 #828.

Now stuffed and mounted at the Leadville Depot where the Leadville, Colorado, & Southern tourist line runs. If you ever get a chance to ride its a great scenic trip.
B

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

HOD Bill wrote:

C&S 641 last ran Sept 12, 1962 from Climax Mine back to Leadville with 2 beat up gondolas, 1 box car and a caboose. The last steam operation on the line. She was replaced by Burlington SD-9 #828.

Now stuffed and mounted at the Leadville Depot where the Leadville, Colorado, & Southern tourist line runs. If you ever get a chance to ride its a great scenic trip.
B

Bill -

I'd be much more inclined to ride if #641 was pulling the train! Sure did like those "little" C&S standard gauge Consolidations. I believe that the 9/12/62 run of 641 actually was the last run of a standard gauge steamer in regular service on a Class 1 railroad.

Les

tomgears · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:47 pm

Quote:

I believe that the 9/12/62 run of 641 actually was the last run of a standard gauge steamer in regular service on a Class 1 railroad.

Oh boy... that's like saying this is the biggest bridge in the country.

Mike Swanson · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:28 pm

It'd be interesting to see if 641 still looks that good today; I was up there in '97 with my dad and she looked more like a typical derelict park locomotive, with the bell and headlight missing and rust everywhere. Some local volunteers cosmetically restored 641 afterwards (the bell, headlights, and other parts had been removed for safekeeping and restoration work); the windows weren't replaced (can't blame 'em; I'd have done the same given the location) but it looks like they did a pretty fair job otherwise.