Of course, there is only ONE C&S 71, but the other engine might be painted that way by now. She is not from Central America, but rather the Coahuila & Zacatecas, in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Sorry, but I'm posting from the library, and do not have my records with me, or I could give details.

When Lindsey Ashby ran the Central City operation, he used an FIdeCA locomotive some of that time, which is Central American.

Mr 7000, I sure don't think they had the 71 going in 1987, it seems to me that our BN Steam Shop guys would have said HOT DAMN, and joined up with them instead of wasting our time trying to help folks who didn't want our help. BUT, my memory has been known to misfire, (and I've been known to post it), and I have no written records. If you could double check the date on your photo, I'd appreciate it, and thank you.

That gondola was an original C&S gondola with steel underframe and Bettendorf trucks. I can promise that they also had a most lovely, original, C&S, purpose built combine. You missed a treat if you didn't ride. The world has missed a treat ever since.

One photo as requested (now my computer seems to be playing ball...), though, as I mentioned, it isn't brilliant quality.
Taken on 8th August 1987 at Central City, CO.

Was staying with friends in Denver at the time, and they took me out for the day to Central City and Heritage Square in Golden - another place that had some narrow gauge steam operation. Date is definite, as I then embarked on several days worth of Amtrak travel from 9th to 21st using a rail pass over to the east coast and back to Denver.

While I worked the loop I saw a good bit of the various stuff that happened... don't even get me started on the 1203 debacle....
I always wondered why nothing was done with the locomotive (60?) in Idaho Springs....

As a former resident of Idaho Springs I can advise that the town owns the locomotive and does not wish to see it removed, and it is in highly depreciated condition as it was when the railroad was removed around it. Building a new locomotive would be more cost effective, robust and reliable.

Mr 7000, thanks for your foto and confirmation of the date. It's really hard to believe they ran for three seasons and nobody found out about it until the end. One of the guys from up there worked with me at BN during that time, but we didn't always talk choo choo. After it was over he told me all about it...

Dave, I can't reveal any details, but there's a secret C&S #60 society that might just be able to pull it off. It sure would be nice to see the good guys win a little more often.

Hi,

As I recall (and I might have the details wrong), the Ashbys got the dead (or other document) to use C&S 71 on the Loop. Supposedly it was loaded onto a tractor-trailer and the move started. When Central City or the Opera house there got word, they either cut off the truck before Black Hawk or it made it to the Loop but was never unloaded due to the outrage started by some residents of Central City not wanting to loose "their" loco.

Having C&S 71 and C&S 9 (for special days service only) would have been great.Oh well opportunity lost.

Doug vV

OT. but my parents live about ten miles from the casinos now, it was my grandparents' house (GF Rio Grande fireman, his father same with Lackawanna) and great grandparent's cabin before that, my grandmother went to school in East Portal while my great GF worked on the Moffat tunnel and my mom is a Colorado native. From what my grandparents told me (I moved to CO in 1992 until 2005) the referendum to allow gambling went through around 1990 with the idea that the little historical towns would have slot machines in their shops and little more just to keep them going, sort of an old west town. What has happened is a predictable abomination. There was still enough of the right of way available in 1990 or so to make a connection to the loop possible, but difficult.

So, I, a student who is opposed to legal gambling, and had been in Central City/ Blackhawk in the 1970s before their obliteration (I still have a little wooden bank from Central CIty on my dresser) was called to jury duty in Denver around 2003. I was keen to participate (thinking it would be a criminal trial) even though my boss at my part-time job wanted me to get out of it somehow. Show up, turns out it is a civil dispute between three partners who speculated on a piece of land in Blackhawk and two then went venue shopping to end up in the Denver county court. I'm seething to have been involved in essentially a mob dispute. One at a time we are called up and asked by one of the plaintiffs' attorneys if there was any reason we couldn't be objective. I say I don't think gambling should be legal. He says some people like to gamble. I say some people like crack but I don't think it should be legal. I wasn't part of the final pool.

I was just talking to my mom about how Colorado has throughout its history never heeded the saying that you don't "s--t in your own nest". I think the fate of Central CIty/Blackhawk exemplifies that.

Hey Folks,

I know this book is way out of print. Anyone know where I could get a copy?

Thanks!
Joe

Last time I passed thata way, Gallagher's Books in Denver was still there. I bet if you called and asked, they could fix you up.

Roger. Thanks!