C&S tales: locomotive 71-life after abandonment

Chronicles the life of C&S 71 from after the abandonment of the C&S narrow gauge to its present life on display in Central City.
Sources of photos, video, and information:
Author's research and text: alpinetunnel.b...
C&S Platte Canon Memories and Then Some by Tom and Denise Klinger
C&S Clear Creek District Memories and Then Some by Tom and Denise Klinger
Jim Pallow photos
Author's collection photos
Steam Heritage Video: • Colorado & Southern 71...
mspetersen video: • C&S #71
The Bogies & the Loop article Oct. 2017 by Steve Clifford "Hauling C&S No. 71"
Narrow Gauge to Central & Silver Plume by Cornelius Hauck

[@rogerhuber3133]

I'm just very, very sorry I never got to see the C&S in the day. Such an interesting railroad with beautiful engines.

[@galaxieman1964]

A shame they couldn't maintain they're dream of Central City to Blackhawk. At least through all this, she wasn't scrapped. Great video. You narrate well.

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

Thanks!

[@noelle2644]

Another great video!!

[@asanewby4273]

Fascinating video! The narration was highly informative!

[@trainlandia697]

0:41 If I was alive back then, I would have taken #6 when I first heard about it!

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

It's too bad it was lost!

[@timothyboles6457]

They always protested someone actually using the locomotive for what it was intended to do. So now it's back unprotected rusting away from the inside out. I hope they are proud

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

Agreed. To think 71 could have been run on the Georgetown Loop! And it was the Ashby's running it back then. They would have done a great job with the engine too.

[@timothyboles6457]

@@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853 when it was running outside Central City. They raised more of a stink than when it was at the Georgetown Loop!

[@cmcer1995]

Too bad she can't be adopted by some (s) and place on an active restored track somewhere in Colorado. But, at least she is safe for now.

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

I agree. It's a shame that's she's a casino prop at this point, but it's something.

[@War1109]

There's a group (forgot what they are called) who is trying to rebuild a large portion of the line and hopefully use 71 to run the trains

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

@@War1109 I heard that they recently laid track in Central City.

[@trainlandia697]

Are there plans to restore this locomotive to operation?

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

There are actually. The website of the group hoping to do it are centralcityrailroad.com. They have recently laid track at the old boarding site to move the locomotive and coach there to work on them.

[@prowordsmith]

What about #9 who resided at a siding below Silver Plume for many years and did run under steam on the GLRR for at least one season?

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

#9 also has a fascinating history. I'd love to do a video on it some day. No. 9 went to New York, then Illinois, then Chicago, then back to Illinois, then South Dakota, and then finally came back to Colorado in 1988 where she was on that siding at the GLRR until restoration and running for one season in 2006. After that she headed to Breckenridge for display.

[@prowordsmith]

@@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853 - It would be a good subject! I have photos I took of her sitting on the siding below Silver Plume. Probably my most favorite of all the C%S engines.

[@warrior3456_]

neat

[@Stooltoad5017]

Does anybody on earth know what happened to the Central city railroad/mining museum? They haven’t updated anything on their website since 2022, and I can’t find anything on their social media sites I have found. I assume the operation petered out, but it’s strange to me they haven’t updated their website to say as such.

[@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853]

I'm going on memory here, but I thought I read that they went before the city to propose their idea and they did not receive the support or go-ahead. That's the last I heard. I hope that's not just hearsay. I too have not been able to find anything official anywhere else online.

[@Stooltoad5017]

@@searchingforthecsnarrowgau8853 Sounds about right. Here say or not, that’s more information then I have found. Still strange to me that they haven’t said anything about it, but sometimes there are only so many answers.

[@formerparatrooper]

Ah yes, Colorado. For the most part, especially around Denver/Boulder is quite dysfunctional, by some strange realization of history, the area is run by demoncrats. We are so blessed to have shifted out of that area in 1977.

[@farmerdave7965]

Ah yes. You and trump will be cell mates. How's that Putin working out for you.