The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-13
A WONDERFUL RAILROAD.
a Grade of Over 400 Feet to the Mile Over
Without Cogs.
Leadville Democrat.

LeadNflle Democrat.
Much has been written about the construction
of the mountain divisions of the Rio Grande
travellers have marvelled at the 4 per cent grades
and the 10 degree curvature, of the remarkable
narrow gauge railroad which penetrates the
most rugged canyons and climbs the most lofty
mountain ranges of the Rockies. But nobody
has ever well described the wonderful little feed
er of the Leadvile division which modestly
leaves the main line in Browns canon and as
cends the mountain gulches to the east with the
steepest grades and the heaviest curves in the
world that are overcome with the ordinary drive
wheel locomotive. Afar up in this range of
mountains seven miles away, and nearly 1000
feet higher than the bed of the canon, is the ia
nous Calumet mine, from which is extracted
the hematite iron ore that keeps in blast
the furnaces of the Bessemer works at
Pueblo. Every morning of the year a ponder
Gus locomotive and a small train of cars tolls up
perilous descent to the valley, loaded with iron,
with the steam brakes on the cars the water
pressure on the locomotive drivers, and q man
standing at the brake-wheel of each car
This is the most wonderful piece of railroading
in the universe. The maximum grade is 406
feet to the mile, or nearly per cent and the
maximum curvature % degrees The terminal
of the branch is half a mile higher than the
commencement Imagine, then, the difficulty
in ascending with empty cars, and the
danger of descending with loaded ones.
Still, strange though it may seem, loco
motive cannot make the descent unless at
least five cars are attached. The latter are
essential to provide the resisting power for
the steam breaks. The trip up is snailish the
return is rapid in spite of the steam pressure
which cuts the car wheels into sparks that fly
out in constant stream from the brakes, in
spite of the reverse action in spite of the lavish
use of the sand pipe and in spite of the water
brake on the locomotive drive wheels.
Some few years ago when the operation of
the line was commenced, runaway accidents
were of almost daily occurrence. The seven
the wrecks of and locomotives and iron
ore. The most discouraging results attended the
persistent efforts to make the line serve the pur
pose for which it was constructed. Day after
day control over the descending train would be
lost; some defect would interfere with the work
ing of the steam brake and even with the brake
in successful operation the train would take a
crazy notion and go flying down the mountain
sides, along the Drinks of fearful precipices;
through the rock-bound gulles and around the
acute curves like a bolt of lightning The train
hands would leap for life, and then the locomo-
tive and cars would be dashed into fragments.
In all these accidents, however, nobody was
hurt. Thousands and thousands of dollars
worth of rolling stock is said to have been de-
stroyed before a successful system of operation
was established. Only very few of the higher
officials of the Rio Grande realize how terrible
was the experience of these rides and it is told
of two of them who once summed up sufficient
curiosity and courage to make he journey, they
were so frightened that they hung on to the steps
of the caboose expecting every moment to have
to leap for life
Finally extremely heavy locomotives were
built, and force of exceptionally brave train
men were secured. The latter were instructed
to cling to their post at every hazard, and to
never finch in the moment of danger. Not a
serious accident has been recorded since. Start
ing from the mine every brake is manned so that
in case the steam should fail the train could be
checked. While there have been several run
Always in two years there has not been a wreck.
Slpht of of these ic
one of thrilling interest, the sparks from the
ear-wheels cutting pathway of light down the
mountains which can best be described as hav-
ing the appearance of molten stream of fire
rolling down to the river bed of the canyon.
In Switzerland there are grades as steep as
these of the Calumet branch but they are
equipped for operation with the cable and cog
wheels.