Denver & Rio Grande Roundhouse & Railyard in Salida

Description

All 27 roundhouse tracks and nearly half of the Salida roundhouse itself, are visible in this photograph, taken sometime between 1890 and 1892. Nearly half of the stalls carry four rails to handle both gauges. The 62-foot turntable was used until 1909, when it was replaced with an 80-foot model. Moving counter-clockwise from the roundhouse lead nearest the photographer, the following locomotives are visible: • narrow-gauge Engine 62, a Baldwin Class 56 2-8-0 (notice the irregular size of coal in its tender) • narrow-gauge Grant Class 60 (C-16) 2-8-0, No.213 • a narrow-gauge tender from a Class 60 locomotive • an unidentifiable narrow-gauge locomotive • two unidentifiable standard-gauge engines • an unidentifiable narrow-gauge 2-8-0 • narrow-gauge locomotive No. 404 • an 1881 Baldwin Class 70 (C-19) 2-8-0 • narrow-gauge No. 274, an 1882 Baldwin Class 60 (C-16) 2-8-0 • No. 401, another Class 70 (C-19) 2-8-0 • and two barely visible locomotives in the darkness of the roundhouse. Class 60 Grant 2-8-0 No. 218 rode on the turntable. Class 60 No. 267 and Class 70 No. 409, along with two unidentifiable standard-gauge engines, rested on the ashpit lead. Six gondolas full of ashes, along with one empty, were spotted next to the ashpit. Three drag flangers were next to the ashpit. Notice the water column next to engine No. 267. At left – looking into the distance – you can see the water tank, the Hotel Monte Christo, and the Salida depot. Notice the attractive arch doorways of each roundhouse stall. Tenderfoot Hill looms behind the roundhouse. Alice Chinn Collection.