Publish Date: 2/8/2009 Special to the Reporter-Herald/Kenneth Jessen Rose Brinks, pictured here, and another property owner, Mary Humstone, are trying to save about 100 yards of railroad track. Originally part of a transcontinental railroad, in 1881 it became a branch to sandstone quarries at Stout. Historic properties The four properties added last week to Colorado Preservation’s list of most endangered historic sites in Colorado: • Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific Railroad Grade, Larimer County • 16th Street Mall, Denver • Walsen Power Plant, west of Walsenberg • Fourth Street Commercial District, Saguache Battle is joined to save historic railroad line By Kenneth Jessen For the Reporter-Herald It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is now one of the most endangered historic sites in Colorado as selected by Colorado Preservation Inc. The organization announced Thursday that it had chosen a piece of an old railroad near LaPorte for its 2009 list of four historic sites in Colorado in need of preservation. Property owners Mary Humstone and Rose Brinks have worked hard to save two trestles and about 100 yards of track, the only remnant of the Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific, dating back more than a century. This little bit of history is significant to Larimer County because it was part of a plan to build a transcontinental railroad up the Cache la Poudre River, over Cameron Pass and across North Park. So why is it endangered? The city of Greeley has proposed the construction of a 60-inch water pipeline right through the historic railroad right of way, which would result in the complete destruction of what little is left. The parent company of the Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific was the Union Pacific. In February of 1881, the company had 100 men in the Cache la Poudre Canyon working on the railroad grade. The work force soon grew to 150, with several construction camps established for laborers. At this time, the Union Pacific recognized the high quality sandstone in the valley now occupied by Horsetooth Reservoir. The railroad purchased land at the south end and opened quarries at a place that was named Stout. In 1881, using part of its planned transcontinental line, the railroad built a 15.4-mile branch from Fort Collins to the quarries. The plans for constructing up the Cache la Poudre Canyon over the Continental Divide were abandoned, and years later, part of the grade became Colorado 14. In 1899, the Stout Branch became part of a new railroad, the Colorado & Southern. The first thing the owners faced was decreasing demand for stone coincident with the introduction of concrete. The Stout Branch was reduced in length in 1905 by three miles, and another four miles were removed in 1909. Finally, the last piece of track was removed in 1918, back to Bellvue. In the meantime, the Great Western Sugar Co. built refineries throughout Northern Colorado, starting in 1901 with its Loveland factory. One of the raw materials vital in the refining process was limestone, and there was an abundant supply north of LaPorte. In 1906, starting at Bellvue, a 9.9-mile-long spur was constructed to Ingleside along present-day U.S. 287. The first 5.1 miles of the old Stout Branch became part of this new limestone quarry line. In 1929, the railroad was extended another 4.7 miles north to Rex. This branch remained in service for many years, ending in 1981. A scrapping company started taking up the rails and ties during the mid-1980s, with the last rail removed in about 1993. However, where the railroad curved around the Cache la Poudre River, the rails were left in place because they were difficult to reach. Humstone and Brinks worked to get this small section of track on the National Register of Historic Places, and its designation was received in April 2008. Colorado also added the track and trestles to its list of historic sites. Colorado Preservation Inc. selected the site as among Colorado’s Most Endangered Places for 2009. There are 17 other routes for the pipeline, according to the engineering company hired by the city of Greeley; however, Greeley is determined to use the railroad right of way. In reaction to this, a petition was circulated, and the 2,000 signatures from area residents opposing its construction were presented to the city of Greeley. It remains to be seen what will happen. Kenneth Jessen has been a Loveland resident since 1965. He is the author of 12 books and more than 1,000 articles. He was an engineer for Hewlett-Packard for 33 years and now works as a full-time author, lecturer and guide.
I have just looked at the Utah Rails web site. This one is not listed. I wonder if there is any place else to check? Or a book? Something that sums up what was once in the SLC vicinity? Boxcab E50
Here are just a few of the many web references: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeley,_Salt_Lake_and_Pacific_Railroad http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Greeley,_Salt_Lake_and_Pacific_Railroad http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F1/0189/001/00000026.txt I am glad to see that the railroad segment was already on the NRHP, but it is sad to see it on the list of most endangered sites. This CAN be a good thing if citizens act to save the site, or if the developer is preservation minded and works to avoid the site or cause minimal damage. Cities, such as Greeley, can actually receive tax breaks for helping preserve cultural resources in their jurisdiction. I will be interested to see what happens here. Please keep us up to date.
