Carlos Llamos photos.

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:05 pm

Many are familiar with Carlos' detailed photo descriptions of ongoing work at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic, which reach the web each week of the month. Besides that continuing maintenance and repair work, this particular week also has some interesting photos (some contributed by others) of the former Santa Fe Albuquerque Shops, the Southern San Luis Valley's homemade locomotive (now derelict), and a derelict steam wrecking crane somewhere in West Virginia (I think). Well worth a look at this individual's good effort to keep us informed.

http://www.cumbrestoltecshops.com/SHOPS ... r1week.htm

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:34 pm

I will inquire about the crane with my friends at the "Potomac Eagle". "SBVRR" is the South Branch Valley RR, where they operate.

Finderskeepers · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:51 pm

I'm thinking that erecting shop looks like a fitting home for AT&SF 2926, is this suppose to be the site of the new wheels museum?

Alan Maples · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:01 am

Quote:

a derelict steam wrecking crane somewhere in West Virginia (I think)

The heavy wreck crane is located at the old refractory brick yard at Mt. Savage, MD. It is adjacent to what was the Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad's shop complex, itself a neat find, as a few buildings still stand and are owned by the brick yard. The first iron rails rolled in America came from Mt. Savage and the shops built a number of locomotives, mostly low drivered 2-8-0's, unfortunately none of which survive.

Alan Maples

wsflco · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:12 pm

I'm suprised someone hasn't made an attempt to preserve the D-500. I is without a doubt a unique testiment to American ingenuity. More photos can be found in Steinheimer's memorable Backwoods Railroads of the West.

Chris

Benjamin True · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:01 pm

Gary,

That crane is the twin to the one at Cass. They were both aquire from the federal governement ( I think via the military along with all the other stuff). As I remember one was aquired as a parts source for the other, although I can't remember which is which and they both look in pretty good shape. If you study the Cass roster by the late Phill Bagon. It has some pretty detailed info on the one at Cass.

http://www.msrlha.org/viewroster.htm

From the roster....

Quote:

Wrecking derrick

There was another 75-ton unit (ex-U.S. Army No. 150 – Bay City 1953) acquired under DNR’s auspices at the same time as the one now at Cass. Shipped to the SBVRR, it was rostered as SBVRR "OX," but never used – stored in Moorefield. Reported in the 2000 roster version was a plan for scrapping this wrecking derrick; the state surplus office sold it to the highest bidder – a Californian named Ahizer – in 4-01; the contract required that wrecking derrick be removed from SVRR premises at Moorefield by 6-01. [Current status unknown.]

Gerald W. Kopiasz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:57 am

Can someone give some background regarding the Southern San Luis Valley and its homemade locomotive? I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to this line.

God Bless,
Gerald W. Kopiasz

bobyar2001 wrote:

Many are familiar with Carlos' detailed photo descriptions of ongoing work at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic, which reach the web each week of the month. Besides that continuing maintenance and repair work, this particular week also has some interesting photos (some contributed by others) of the former Santa Fe Albuquerque Shops, the Southern San Luis Valley's homemade locomotive (now derelict), and a derelict steam wrecking crane somewhere in West Virginia (I think). Well worth a look at this individual's good effort to keep us informed.

http://www.cumbrestoltecshops.com/SHOPS ... r1week.htm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:37 am

From various editions American Shortline RR Guide by Ed Lewis:

Operated freight sevice over 1 mile track from connection D&RGW Blanca, CO to McClintock. 65-lb, rail, traffic volcanic scoria (lava rocks). It was little more than a glorified industrial siding with several loading spurs, according to my maps of Blanca.

Incorp. July 3, 1909 as San Luis Southern RR Blanca-Jaroso, CO (on NM border), about 30 miles, opened 1910. Reorg. San Luis Valley Southern 1928, sold & reorg. with SSLV name Dec. 11, 1953. Most of line abandoned and dismantled 1958. The homebuilt 20-tonner (built Nov. 1955) and a 20-ton 1941 Plymouth ML-8, #1, were still on the property in March 1990. The D-500 was reported as built on the frame of a D&RGW idler car, driving the wheels through chains and sprockets; I recall hearing something about a stick-shift transmission as well. The railroad was reported as out of operation, but not formally abandoned, in 1995.

Unbelievably, a book exists on this line: "Colorado's Loneliest Railroad: The San Luis Southern" by P.R. Griswold, Pruett Publishing 1980. The depot at San Acacio is reportedly still standing.