Monarch Branch
Encyclopedia
The Monarch Branch was a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western which left the narrow gauge transcontinental route at Poncha Junction a few miles west of Salida, Colorado
. The narrow gauge
branch built in the 1880s served Colorado Fuel & Iron limestone
quarry
at Monarch, Colorado
. The upper part of the Branch was on a 4.5% grade and included a double switch back to gain elevation to over 10,000ft. In 1956 with the decline of narrow gauge
operations out of Salida, Colorado
the line was converted to standard gauge
. In 1982 Colorado fuel & Iron closed its blast furnaces
at Pueblo, Colorado
and the branch was abandoned.
While the branch was operating it saw a daily train. In later narrow gauge
days it the train was worked by K-36s or K-37s
. The stone was loaded into narrow gauge
wooden gondola cars
the stone would be transferred to standard gauge
gondola cars
via a purpose built rotating 'barrel' at Salida Colorado
. Once the branch was converted to standard gauge
it was worked 4 axle GP9s
and in later days GP30s, GP35s and GP40s. 6 axle SD9s were tested on the branch but derailed due to the tight curves. Diesels assigned to the branch were given modified dynamic brakes to cope with the 4.5% grades.
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...
. The narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
branch built in the 1880s served Colorado Fuel & Iron limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
at Monarch, Colorado
Monarch, Colorado
Monarch, formerly named Garfield, is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located near Monarch Pass in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The Monarch U.S. Post Office has the ZIP Code 81227....
. The upper part of the Branch was on a 4.5% grade and included a double switch back to gain elevation to over 10,000ft. In 1956 with the decline of narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
operations out of Salida, Colorado
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...
the line was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
. In 1982 Colorado fuel & Iron closed its blast furnaces
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
at Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
and the branch was abandoned.
While the branch was operating it saw a daily train. In later narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
days it the train was worked by K-36s or K-37s
D&RGW K-37
Denver & Rio Grande Western K-37s are 2-8-2, Mikado type, narrow gauge steam locomotives. They were originally built by Baldwin as part of an order for thirty standard gauge 2-8-0, Consolidation type, locomotives, class 190, in 1902...
. The stone was loaded into narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
wooden gondola cars
Gondola (rail)
In railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials. Because of its low side walls, gondolas are used to carry either very dense material, such as steel plates or coils, or bulky items such as prefabricated pieces of rail...
the stone would be transferred to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
gondola cars
Gondola (rail)
In railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials. Because of its low side walls, gondolas are used to carry either very dense material, such as steel plates or coils, or bulky items such as prefabricated pieces of rail...
via a purpose built rotating 'barrel' at Salida Colorado
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...
. Once the branch was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
it was worked 4 axle GP9s
GP9
GP9 can refer to:* EMD GP9, a diesel locomotive* Glycoprotein IX, a human gene...
and in later days GP30s, GP35s and GP40s. 6 axle SD9s were tested on the branch but derailed due to the tight curves. Diesels assigned to the branch were given modified dynamic brakes to cope with the 4.5% grades.