by James Burke

[Summer 2001]

One hundred years ago the late blooming boom of Cripple Creek was at its peak. The 1890 gold discovery had exploded into a roaring camp. On July 1, 1894 the first Iron Horse found its way up Phantom Canyon from Florence.

The Florence & Cripple Creek was a narrow gauge railroad which would flourish famously for the next few years riding the crest of Cripple Creek’s incredible ascent. New Iron Horses arrived by the numbers in 1895-96 to fight their way up the crevice called Phantom Canyon and bask in the glories of Victor and Cripple Creek. But the party lasted for only eighteen years. On the night of July 21, 1912 down Phantom Canyon, a colossal cloudburst sent a "30 foot wall of water." Where track and trestles stood strong the day before, the Iron Horse now stared at scoured and scarred rock.

The cost to reconstruct the road was duly considered. But standard gauge competition had come to Cripple Creek and the brilliance of her boom had begun to dim. The final chapter of the Florence and Cripple Creek was closed.

For five years the roadless Iron Horses rusted in the yards. Then resurrection arrived in a man from The Rio Grande. Many Rio Grande Iron Horses were growing old and newer engines purchased to overpower Marshall Pass dared not wander far down rails beyond Gunnison.—The spindly spans in The Black Canyon would not support them and their costly reconstruction was on hold. The alternative to acquire newer, lighter power was attractive.

In 1917 Six Cripple Creek Sisters went west to Gunnison. In the fullness of time they were known as 315 thru 320. Their new home was The Black Canyon and The Uncompahgre. They rested in Montrose on runs from Gunnison to Ouray and were cast in the legendary past of places along the way such as Sapinereo and Cimarron and Ridgway. The faded echoes of their whistles still haunt the undrowned crest of Currecanti and Ouray’s Amphitheatre.

The first to fall was unfortunate Sister 320. She collided with a Black Canyon rock slide in 1934 and rolled into the river taking her fireman to his death. She never steamed again.

Her five surviving sisters served through World War II often hauling radioactive loads from The Rio Grande Southern consigned to reconciliations beyond their wildest concepts. In the wake of the triumphs and tears of the war, Sister 316 was found beyond treatment in Salida. She fell without fanfare to the torch there in ‘46.

As Wartime traffic subsided The Sisters were less busy and concern for their well-being subsided as well. Sister 317 had been cast out of the Montrose engine house when the man with the torch caught her there in ‘48.

Rails through The Black Canyon were ripped up in 1949. The three surviving sisters stood astounded in Montrose. The situation was unmistakably threatening.

The 315 and 319 escaped to The Rio Grande Southern

—searching for work in besieged surroundings-Refugees.

The 318 stayed on the run to Ouray—praying for miracles.

The 315 found work in the Durango yard but soon lost it to larger engines and was retired. The man with the torch was in sight when fate smiled sweetly. She was presented to The City of Durango for historic display.

It was 1950 and Sister 319 was not so fortunate. She had turned some tricks in Telluride and Rico but was soon sent sick to see the Durango doctor. The results of her tests were less than the best and she sat outside the house with diminishing hopes. Then what might have been a miracle in the end went the other way. A man from a movie company came by to eye the 319. She was pulled to the shops and repaired and painted and steamed up to run in front of the camera crews.

—But only to meet another engine running the other way. The 319 died in the staged head-on collision—sacrificed to the thrill seekers of the silver screen.

On March 21, 1953 Sister 318 took the last train to Ouray. When she went to sleep in Montrose that night, all Six Cripple Creek Sisters were sleeping

—Forever? - Maybe not.

The 318 was rescued from the man with the torch by the founders of The Colorado Railroad Museum—She stands proudly in Golden today. And Sister 315 still stands in good hands in Durango. Rumors persist that one or both will feel the fire of life again. The Spirit of Fire and Water pervades their presence.

Long Live The Spirit of The Six Cripple Creek Sisters!

©2001-2005 James Burke

James Burke, railroad historian and photographer is the associate publisher of the "San Juan Silver Stage." His railroad photographs and writings have appeared in a variety of publications throughout the United States.