The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-05
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From ne Leadvilis COL Democrat
Much has been written about the con.
struction Of tho mountain division Of
the Rio Grande; travellers have mar
yelled at the per cent. grades and the
10 deg. curvatures Of the remarkable
narrow gauge railroad which penetrates
the mostrugged canyons and climbs the
most lofty mountain range Of the
Rockies. But nobody has ever we'll de-
scribed the wonderful little feeder
Of the Leadville division which mod
estly leaves the main line in Browns
Canyon, and ascends 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 5000 feet high
er than the bed Of the canyon, is the
famous Calumet mine, from which is
extracted the hemstite iron ore that
keeps in blast the furnaces Of the Bes.
semer works at Pueblo. Every morn
ing Of the year . ponderous locomotive
and small train of cars tolls up this
steep, and every afternoon they make
the perilous descent to the valley,
loaded with iron, with the steam brakes
on the cars, the water pressure ON tho
locomotive drivers, and Q man standing
ut the brake wheel Of each car.
This is the most wonderful piece Of
railroading in the universe. The max
imum grade is 400 feet to the mile, OF
nearly 8 per cent, and the maximum
curvature Is deg. The terminal of the
branch is half mile higher than the
commencement. Immagine, then, the
difficulty in ascending with empty cars
and the danger Of decending with load.
ed ones. Still, strange though it may
seem, o locomotive cannot make the dc
scent unless at least five cars are at.
tached. The latter are essential to pro.
vide the resisting power for the steam
brakes. The trip up is snailish, the re-
turn is rapid. in spite of the steam
pressure which cuts the car wheels in
to sparks that fly out in Q constant
stream from the brakes, in spite of the
reserve action, in spite of the lavish
use of the sand pipes and in spite of
the water brake on the locomotive drive
wheels.
Some few years ago, when the opera
ton of the line was commenced, run
away accidents were Of almost daily &C.
curfence. The seven miles were within
q brief period strewn with the wrecks
of cars and locomotives and iron ore.
The most discouraging results attended
the persistent efforts to make the line
serve the purpose for which it was con-
structed. Day after day control over
the descending train would be lost some
defect would interfere with the working
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 gullies, and
around the acute curves like bolt of
The train hands would
leap for life, and the locomo-
tive and cars would be dashed into frag-
ments. In all these accidents, how
ever, nobody was hurt. Thousands of
dollars worth of rolling stock is said to
have been destroyed before q success
full 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 sum.
med up sufficient curiosity and courage
to make the journey that they were 30
that they hung on to the
steps of the caboose, expecting every
to have toleap for life.
Finally extremely heavy locomotives
were built and force of exceptionally
brave tralnmen were secured. The latter
were instructed to cling to their post at
every hazard and to never finch in
the moment of danger. Not q serious
accident has been recorded since.
from the mine every brake is
manned, 80 that is case the steam
should fail the train could be checked.
While there have been several run
Always, in two years there has not been
3 wreck. The sight of one of these
trains descending is one of thrilling in
tereet, the sparks from the car wheels
cutting pathway of light down the
which can best be described
As having 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.