Foundations for the roundhouse, Salida, Colorado, dated August 1, 1923. The 20-stall standard-gauge roundhouse was constructed in 1900, east of the narrow-gauge roundhouse. By the date of this photograph, August 1, 1923, a new eight-stall roundhouse addition was being constructed as a separate building; however it shared the 100-foot turntable with the original standard-gauge roundhouse. The 100-foot turntable replaced the original 80-foot turntable...

The depot and railyard, viewed from across the Arkansas River, near where Riverside Park is located today. Alice Chinn Collection.

Construction of the machine shops, dated August 28, 1923. Harry Williams Collection.

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....

This train wreck occurred January 23, 1918 near Pando, Colorado. The engineer, Fred C. Graham, and the brakeman, Roy Foster Leininger, were killed. Leininger’s body was buried under tons of wreckage and crushed beyond recognition. Nellie Ellis Collection.

Tenderfoot Mountain behind the roundhouse, prior to the 1892 fire. Alice Chinn Collection.

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...

Hundreds of men were employed in the D&RG machine shops in Salida. It was the largest, most complete repair shop between Denver and Salt Lake City and could repair or rebuild any kind of disaster that might befall a locomotive or piece of rolling stock. On several occasions the crew built locomotives using spare parts from others. Maintenance was a large part of the work here. John Ophus Collection.

Increased mining activity – and some small financial successes in the late 1890’s – prompted a spate of prospecting by Salida businessmen and even a few children. They swarmed up the gulches northeast of town with picks, shovels and a little dynamite seeking “color.” They weren’t disappointed – at first – because they found showings of gold, silver, copper and lead. For a time during the winter of 1895-96, many businesses closed early...

Dressed in Sunday finery, Nina Churcher, held by Frank Churcher, presents a bouquet of flowers to Commodore W. S. Schley who doffs his hat in thanks on May 27, 1899. Schley, and Admiral William T. Sampson, became naval heroes when they bottled Spanish Admiral Topete y Cervera and his fleet in Santiago Bay, Cuba, on May 19, 1898, then destroyed the Spanish fleet as it attempted to escape July 3. Celebrities, dignitaries and politicians frequently made...