The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-11
A SENSATIONAL RAILROAD.
THE TRAIN THAT TOLLS UP A STEEP
COLORADO NOUN TAIN.
Fire streaming From the wheels of
the East Descending Cars-Many
Runaway Accidents

Fire Streaming From the wheels of
the East Descending Cars-Many
Runaway Accidents
Much has been written about the con
struction of the mountain divisions of
the Rio Grande, travellers have marveled
at the four per cent. grades and the
fifteen degree curvatures of the remarlla-
Bile narrow-gauge railroad which pene-
trates the most rugged canyons and
climbs the most lofty mountain ranges
of the Rockies. But nobody has ever
described the wonderful little feeder of
the Leadvile 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. Affair up in this range of
mountains, seven miles away, and nearly
5000 feet higher than the bed of the
canyon is the famous Calumet mine, from
which is extracted the hematite iron ore
that keeps in blast the furnaces of the
Bessemer works at Pueblo. Every morn
ing of the year a ponderous locomotive
and small train of cars toll 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 the locomotive
drivers and a man standing at the brake
wheel of each car
This is the most wonderful piece of
railroading in the universe. The maxi
mum grade is 406 feet to the mile, or
nearly eight per cent, and the maximum
curvature twenty-five degrees. The ter
minal of the branch is half 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, locomotive cannot make the
descent 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 pres
sure which cuts the car wheels into
sparks that fly out in a constant stream
from the brakes, 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 opera
ton Of the line was commenced, runaway
accidents were almost of daily occur
renee. The seven miles were, within a
a 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 work
ing of the steam brake; and even with
the brake in successful operation the
train would take a crazy notion and
90 flying down the mountain sides,
along the Drinks of fearful precipices,
through the rock bound gullies and
around the acute curves like a bolt of
lightning. The train hands would leap
for life, and then the locomotive 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 destroyed before successful
system of operation was established.
Only very few OF the higher officials of
the Rio GraDde 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 the journey, they were so fright
ened that they hung on to the steps of
the caboose, expecting every moment to
Aave 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 serious acct
dent has been recorded since. Starting
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 runaways in two years
there has not been a wreck. The sight
of one of these trains descending is one
of thrilling interest, the sparks from the
car wheels cutting pathway of light
down the mountains, which can be best
described as having the appearance of
a molten stream of fire rushing down to
the river bed of the canyon.