NEWS RELEASE Georgetown Loop Railroad poised to receive a rare piece of restored Colorado history – the Colorado & Southern No. 9 Locomotive The most famous of South Park locomotives, C&S No. 9 is a living reminder of Colorado rail history Silver Plume, Colo.— The Georgetown Loop Railroad crew excitedly awaits the return of the recently restored historic Colorado & Southern (C&S) No. 9 steam locomotive on Thursday, May 25. This Saturday at 9:15 a.m., the No. 9 will be steamed up during the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s 2006 season opening day ceremony at the Silver Plume Depot that celebrates Clear Creek County’s rich railroading history. No. 9 narrow gauge steam locomotive was considered the most famous of the South Park engines. Part of a series (Nos. 4-13) of 1884 Cooke 2-6-0 “moguls,” the No. 9 is the only survivor. The No. 9 was used extensively throughout the C&S narrow gauge system and made regular trips into Clear Creek County and on the Georgetown Loop. Once back in service, the No. 9 could possibly become one of the oldest and rarest operational locomotives in Colorado. The No. 9 pulled both freight and passengers, bringing the last passenger train from Leadville to Denver on April 10, 1937. After the end of its active service, the No. 9 was used as a display locomotive at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. From 1940–1948 it was stored in Burlington’s Aurora, Ills. shops. The No. 9 then operated at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948-1949 and was stored in Illinois again until 1957 when the train was moved to the Black Hills Central excursion railroad in South Dakota for display. It was donated to the Colorado Historical Society in 1988 by Burlington Northern and, in 2004, sent to Uhrich Locomotive Works in Strasburg, Colo. to restore it to operating status. “We are so very proud to revive such an important and rare piece of living Colorado history back into service—especially to the Georgetown Loop,” said Georgianna Contiguglia, Colorado Historical Society president. The restoration, which was funded through a State Historical Fund grant, cost approximately $231,825. The State Historical Fund (SHF), a program of the Colorado Historical Society, awards grants to public and non-profit organizations to preserve Colorado’s historic treasures for the benefit of future generations. Program funds are provided by tax revenues from limited-stakes gaming. Since 1993, the SHF has awarded more than $176 million to nearly 3,000 projects. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, taking a trip on the Georgetown Loop became a must for any tourist in Colorado. Sadly, the abandonment of the C&S’s Clear Creek lines went almost unnoticed once the railroad stopped running to Central City in 1925. With the decline of the mining industry and the rise of tourism by automobile, it was no longer a desirable transportation source. The C&S filed for abandonment of the entire line on Feb. 28, 1936. In 1959, the Colorado Historical Society founded the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park. After years of work by the U.S. Navy’s Seabees and others, the “far famed” Loop line, including the Devil’s Gate High Bridge, was restored between Georgetown and Silver Plume. It opened as a heritage train ride in 1984 and is still a popular tourist destination to this day. In the coming weeks, Georgetown Loop Railroad operator, Railstar Corporation, will test the locomotive, which has not run regularly in nearly 70 years. If testing goes well, No. 9 will double-head with the No. 12 locomotive to provide more motive power to the overall operation and to pull more passengers. The Georgetown Loop Railroad 2006 season begins Saturday, May 27 and trains run daily until October 8. For more information about the Georgetown Loop Railroad train rides and tours of the Lebanon Silver Mine, visit www.georgetownlooprr.com. For images and more information about the No. 9, please contact (303) 866-3670 or email rebecca.laurie@chs.state.co.us. ### Background The Colorado Historical Society The Colorado Historical Society is a statewide organization with 12 museums and historic sites across the state, including the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park. The Georgetown Loop was originally built in the late 1800s and closed in the 1930s. The park was founded by the Colorado Historical Society in 1959 and the three miles of narrow-gauge line that connects Georgetown and Silver Plume, Colorado, as well as the Lebanon Silver Mine, were refurbished and eventually opened as a heritage tourist attraction. The park includes nearly 1,000 acres, 12 buildings and four railway bridges, including the nearly 100-foot-high Devil’s Gate bridge over Clear Creek and the railroad. For more information, visit www.coloradohistory.org. Railstar Corporation Headquartered in Cape Vincent, New York, Railstar Corporation began operating the Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad in 2005. Railstar Corporation also owns and operates the Erie Canal Village historic park and museum in Rome, New York, which includes a two-foot narrow-gauge steam railway and an authentic mule-drawn canal boat, as well as a narrowgauge equipment manufacturing factory in Watertown, New York. Reservations to ride the Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad and tour the Lebanon Silver Mine can be made by calling 1-888-456-6777 or visiting www.georgetownlooprr.com. Release May 24, 2006
WOW, this would be great if true. I know the SHF had awarded money to restore some railroad equipment, but I did not realize this one was included. Where is this news release from ? When was it issued? Do you have any info on when the 9 will be tested (imagine the railfanning that could happen...). John
9News.com It was reported on 9News last night and that it might be used in a Doubleheader with #12. The "NEWS RELEASE" is straight off the Georgetown Loop website as background information about #9.
WOW, this is one to watch! This must be their answer to losing the shays...Anyway, do keep us up to date. I will be checking the Railstar website as well John
Here's yesterday's posting off of the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum, by Steve Torrico, who is the engineer of #9, so this is 'the horses mouth'. "Tomorrow" is Wed. Aug. 1: "Word to all that tomorrow No.9 will double-head with the No.12. It is "Colorado Day" and "media day" at the Loop. Sad to report that we did not have time to get the bear trap on (have to fab a new cinder tube)...but the roof will be black, all black on the tender, the number plate is fixed."
Interesting. The news release says that it will be run on the Saturday that the season opened. That was Memorial day weekend and it said that the delivery date was May 25. I saw it sitting outside their enginehouse in Silverplume a couple of weeks ago but it wasn't steaming. I've been up to the Loop a couple of times this year to watch the trains and I haven't seen #9 yet. I wonder if they had some problems when they tried to steam it. After 50+ years of not operating, that wouldn't be surprising. I hope they can get it to run soon. Eric
It's the first week of August. Sounds like season opening is a little bit late? Anyhow, having this engine operate again is great news. Hope it runs well, and safely! :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
Double heading today??? Oh NO!! Lets see, if I leave work now, drive 90 MPH...nope, still can't make it Hopefully this is a long term arrangement for the No. 9 and we can get other chances at seeing/photographing/riding. John
More from 9News Today [FONT=arial, helvetica, sans serif]An historic train that once pulled passengers in Georgetown returns to the track Tuesday. 9NEWS 6 a.m. August 1, 2006.[/FONT]
The shots on the 9 news broadcast look good. Looks like an excellent restoration job. Guess I better get reservations up there!! John
History of No 9 I put together a comprehensive history of number 9 from what I could gather on it from C&S ng by Farrell, Colorado's Mountain Railroads by La Massena, and the CHS. If I've left anything out, let me know.
Hey thanks for that history. I have often wondered why Bachmann chose the number 22 for their On30 model when the 9 has such a long history. The 22 wasn't even liked by its own crews! Anyway, this is extremely good news for us C & S fans who lurk in dark corners... John
Hopefully when we ride the george town loop during the n scale convention. This will be running. Alan
Glad to see all the interest in steam running in Colorado. When the rift occurred between the operators and owners, I was fearful that this great place may cease to operate, but it hasn't. Good things to be said about everyone involved in the Georgetown Loop. Several pix posted elsewhere on the net of the doubleheader operating. Yee--HAA gotta get back there again. :teeth:
