Collection M 018:
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad records
 DRAFT inventory

Introduction/ Scope and contents

Collection M 018
Denver and Rio Grande Western records
1921-1964 (bulk years 1951-1964)
.8 linear shelf feet (in 2 document cases)

This collection contains selected historically significant documents regarding the operations of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad near Durango, Colorado.  Most of this information is not congruent with other similar records.  Items such as the Scale Tickets and Agents stubs are examples of what would have been collected at a specific moment of time, not throughout the entire time span of operation.   The clearance cards or train orders consist mainly of numerically coded orders.  An instruction sheet accompanies the yellow train order sheet, which can contain multiple orders or orders to annul a previous train order.  

Historical note

The original Denver and Rio Grande Railway, popularly known as “The Western” was created by General Palmer in 1870 with the idea of reaching Mexico.  In 1871, Denver and Rio Grande (D&RG) began constructing a line that ran south out of Denver intended to reach the Rio Grande River.  In 1881, D&RG converted its line between Denver and Pueblo from strictly narrow gauge to a three-rail track, which allowed both narrow and standard gauge trains to use the same track.

As mining increased in 1881, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railway line constructed a standard gauge mainline, parallel to D&RG's mainline between Denver and Pueblo.  The new competition between D&RG and D&SF incited D&RG to build several long sidings along its mainline and to grant trackage rights to Missouri Pacific trains running between Pueblo and Denver.  Because AT&SF had a strong business in the south, D&RG decided to turn west and cross over the Continental Divide rather than continue toward the Rio Grande.  The line reached Salida in August of 1880.  In 1881, an extension crossed over the Continental Divide at Tennessee Pass, at an elevation of 10,445 feet.  Until recently, this was the highest pass of any Class 1 main line in the continental United States.

From its first organization, the Western was meant to be a subsidiary company of D&RG.  A lease contract of 40 years agreeing to such terms was authorized on April 3,1882 and was finalized on May 26, 1883.  The lease involved approximately  470 miles of track from Salt Lake City to the Colorado boundary, and served as an important factor in shifting the axis to east-west.  However, in March of 1886 the Western released D&RG from its bond guarantee obligations and foreclosure occurred Aug 1^st, with General Palmer resuming control of the Western from D&RG’s Frederick Lovejoy.

In 1889, the Denver and Rio Grande Railway and the Colorado Midland Railway merged to form the Rio Grande Junction Railway Company.  In 1918, an operating agreement was reached, splitting ownership of the D&RG and AT&SF tracks and creating the Joint Line, which continues to operate between Denver and Pueblo.  Between 1910 and 1921, corporate reorganization occurred, forming the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.  The Joint Line continues double track operation from Crews to Bragdon, where the Rio Grande and Santa Fe go their separate ways.

Works cited:

http://www.geocities.com/moffroad/drgwhist.htm (accessed 10/11/04)

http://www.ghostdepot.com/rg/history/historyindex.htm (accessed 10/11/04)

Athearn, Robert G.  Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.  Published in 1962.  (Call number HE2791.D44242 in the oversize books at Delaney Library at the Center of Southwest Studies.)

Wilson, O. Meredith.  The Denver and Rio Grande Project, 1870-1901. (Published in 1982) (Call number HE2791.D4427 W53 at the Delaney Library at the Center of Southwest Studies).

Administrative information

Acquisition information:  The Center of Southwest Studies acquired these materials as an early gift from Alva F. Lyons.

Processing information: Center of Southwest Studies student archival assistants Paul Beckler and Debra Lehl arranged and described this collection in September of 2000, under the supervision of Archivist Todd Ellison.  Student archival assistant Olivia Everett researched and wrote the historical sketch in October of 2004.  This inventory was prepared by Debra Lehl in 2000 and was edited by Todd Ellison in January of 2002 (last revised in January of 2006).

Subject cataloging access points:
Railroads--Colorado
Railroads, Narrow-gauge 

Container list

Box 1:

       Folder 1       Deck of playing cards provided by the Denver and Rio Grande, showing scenes of the Southwest.

       Folder 2       Scale tickets, 1957 Sept. 4-13.

       Folder 3       Scale tickets, 1957 Sept. 25-30.

       Folder 4       Scale tickets, 1957 Sept. 16-24.

       Folder 5       Scale tickets, 1964 Oct. 5-Nov. 20.

       Folder 6       Scale tickets, 1964 Nov. 23-Dec. 29.

       Folder 7       Various forms.

       Folder 8       Alamosa agent’s stubs, 1921 June.

       Folder 9       Durango agent’s stubs, 1951 May-July 11.

       Folder 10      Durango agent’s stubs, 1951 July 18-Aug..

       Folder 11      Durango agent’s stubs, 1956 July 1.

       Folder 12     Durango agent’s stubs, 1956 July 15.

Box 2:

       Folder 1       Clearance cards (train orders) 1959 May.

       Folder 2       Clearance cards (train orders) 1959 June.

       Folder 3       Clearance cards (train orders) 1959 July.

       Folder 4       Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 Jan.- Feb..

       Folder 5       Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 March-April.

       Folder 6       Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 May.

       Folder 7       Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 June.

       Folder 8       Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 July.

       Folder 9       Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 Aug..

       Folder 10      Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 Sept.. 

       Folder 11      Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 Oct..

       Folder 12      Clearance cards (train orders) 1962 Nov.-Dec..

       Folder 13      Clearance cards (train orders) 1963 Jan.-Feb..

       Folder 14      Clearance cards (train orders) 1963 March-May.

       Folder 15      Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 Jan..

       Folder 16      Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 Feb..

       Folder 17      Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 March.

       Folder 18      Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 April.

       Folder 19      Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 May.

       Folder 20      Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 June.

       Folder  21     Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 Aug.–Sept..

       Folder  22     Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 Oct..

       Folder  23     Clearance cards (train orders) 1964 Nov..

       Folder  24     Way bills, 1963 May.

This collection is located at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College.  Researchers wanting more information about using this material at the Delaney Southwest Research Library at the Center may email the archivist at archives@fortlewis.edu or click here to use our E-mail Reference Request Form (or phone the archivist at 970/247-7126).  The Center does not have a budget for outgoing long-distance phone calls to answer reference requests, so please email if you wish to receive a response from the Center.  To request reproductions/copies, click here for instructions.