Salida Centennial Photo Collection

Salida, Colorado celebrated its centennial in 1980. The Salida Centennial Committee compiled this collection of old photographs to help preserve the history of Salida and the surrounding areas. Photos were donated from: • Frank Thomson • Donna Nevens • Salida Museum • Alice Chinn • Salida Fire Department • Josephine Soukup (Kratky) • Ernest Brownson • Alta Proctor • Janice Pennington • Dick Dixon

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Denver & Rio Grande Roundhouse & Railyard in Salida
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.
Denver & Rio Grande Roundhouse After the Fire
Shortly after the disastrous 1892 fire, locomotive servicing and repairs had to be done out in the open, in front of the roundhouse ruins. From this angle, the machine shop was at the left, and the charred boiler-house roof was visible beside the stack. Prior to the fire, the arch in the roundhouse doors had been bricked up. The 62-foot turntable was still in use. A standard-gauge switch engine, an 1890 Class 113 (C-28) Baldwin 2-8-0 in the 600-series, stood over the ashpit. Spotted on the roundhouse leads, from left to right, were Engines 227, 283, 400 (?), 401, 44, 530 (standard-gauge), 407 and 403. Burned hulks of locomotives remained in the remnants of the roundhouse. Steve Frazee Collection.
Denver & Rio Grande Roundhouse Aftermath from Fire
Fire destroyed 17 locomotives in the roundhouse and shops December 11, 1892, including Nos. 404 and 285 which were in for major repairs and couldn’t be moved. The blaze gutted 14 of 17 roundhouse stalls before city and D&RG firemen and about 100 volunteers could bring it to a halt. Low water pressure, rotten hoses, and freezing weather made fire fighting a nightmare, but there were no major injuries. Volunteers managed to save 20 locomotives and all the others were repaired when shops were rebuilt. Steve Frazee Collection.
Denver & Rio Grande Roundhouse in Salida
A narrow-gauge train had arrived from the west, a locomotive (possibly No. 218) was removing the loaded gondolas of ash from next to the ashpit, and No. 404 had moved out of the roundhouse onto the turntable. During the warm weather, locomotives under steam were spotted with their stacks outside of the roundhouse to improve ventilation in the building. Walter Moore is pictured in the center of three men leaning against No. 404. John Ophus Collection.
Denver & Rio Grande Scenic Line Band
Denver & Rio Grande Scenic Line Band members march in curb-hugging lines as they bring up the rear of one of Salida’s many parades. Horse-drawn floats and fire equipment obviously preceded the band. The parade route is eastbound on First Street, almost at its intersection with F Street. To the right of the Union Hotel is an assayer and chemist; Henry’s Place, a saloon, is in the frame building and the sign on the wall advertises Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root Kidney Remedy. Manful’s Barber Shop is at the right. The photo was taken before 1900 and all of the buildings except the frame one remain today. Donna Nevens Collection.
Denver & Rio Grande Western Panoramic Special
Denver & Rio Grande Western Panoramic Special, ca. 1920. Leonard Perschbacher Collection.
Denver & Rio Grande in the Royal Gorge
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad in the Royal Gorge, ca. 1920. Leonard Perschbacher Collection.
Dr. Cochem's House
Dr. Cochem’s house, corner of F and 4th streets. Nellie Ellis Collection.
Dreaming of Driving
Image of two young children posing in an automobile. Taken by John Kratky. Josephine Soukup Collection.
Duke's Grave
Although damaged and vandalized, pillars supporting the roof over the grave of Duke remained in place in the early 1920s when this trio of young Salida women (Nina Churcher (Thompson) on right) visited the monument on their way to a picnic at the Crater, a popular Sunday hiking destination. Frank Thomson Collection.
Ed Creswell and a Friend
Ed Creswell is on the left. Nellie Ellis Collection.
Edna Kalyniak
Edna (Eklund) Kalyniak. Nellie Ellis Collection.

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