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Collection M 019:
Rio Grande Southern Railroad (Colo.) records
inventory
(Note: this prints out as 25 pages)

Links to contents                Look for this symbol  below to listen to selected sound recordings in MP3 file format.
 

Preface

Introduction/ 
Scope and contents

Historical note 

Administrative information

Railroad map

Freight rates table

Series descriptions

Container list

Nomad car

Photos

Sounds Other RR collections

Introduction/ Scope and contents

Years this material was created: circa 1884-1997 (bulk 1890-1983)

Quantity: approximately 60 linear shelf feet (approximately 140 volumes and approximately 5,000 unbound items, in 80 document cases and flat lidded boxes)

This collection contains the historically significant records retained from the operations of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) and related railroad companies.  The RGS narrow gauge railroad ran from Durango to Hesperus, Mancos, Dolores, Rico, Telluride, and Ridgway where it joined with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.  It operated from 1890 to 1950 -- one of the narrow gauge lines assembled by Otto Mears.  In its later years the Rio Grande Southern developed the "Galloping Goose" to serve its region using a single motorized car on the narrow gauge rails.  The collection includes bound letters, claims and reports (1890-1914), photographs (in Collection P 026, half of which is visually accessibly on the Web), treasurer's records, coupons and other records.

This large collection contains documents of various types, predominantly bound into leather volumes (that binding was done before the Center acquired these, but after the documents ceased being in active use by the company). Some of the records are in good condition, but most are suffering from decay due to use of--or attachment to--acidic paper.  Many of the contents of the volumes are originals (or original letterpress copies) pasted onto construction paper.  The letterpress copies were produced on very thin paper, which one must turn carefully to avoid folding or tearing the sheets.  The leather bindings on some of the books are also rotting.  Thus, the collection must be handled with special care.

The collection content is wide ranging, including letters from railway pioneer/company president Otto Mears, inventories of equipment, lists of salaries, blueprints of track road­ways, and scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and memorabilia about some of the old private cars.  The collection is divided into seven main subgroups.  The first subgroup is of railroad printed materials; its series of materials include such items as tickets, freight rates and regulations, and official railroad system schedules.  The second subgroup consists of administrative records and correspondence of Otto Mears and other railroad officials.  The third subgroup contains financial records of the railroad, and is the largest grouping of the Rio Grande Southern archives.  The fourth subgroup within this collection is the personnel records.  The fifth consists of records from the railroad's daily operations.  This includes a scrapbook that was found with this collection but which actually pertains to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad rather than the Rio Grande Southern: the VIP historic passenger car, the Nomad.  The Nomad car was not part of the RGS, but this specially restored car now makes its home in Durango as part of the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

The bound volumes were arranged and described ("processed") as part of a student project by Tom Barber in December 1993.  Anything noted as being in a green box still must be processed.  Please consult with the archivist for access to those parts of the collection.


Related historical materials in archival collections at the Delaney Library:

Papers of A. F. Lyons, who was at least partly responsible for the original preservation and arrangement of the records in this collection.  The papers consist of 12.5 document cases of historical records, 1882-2005 (bulk years 1940-1969), compiled by San Juan Basin narrow gauge railroad conductor Alva F. Lyons. Includes records and printed materials of the Order of Railroad Conductors. 

Rio Grande Southern Railroad photographs, described at the end of the series list (CSWS collection P 026).

Sounds of narrow gauge railroads:

  • Circa January 1959.    (CSWS recording no. 462.)  Reel side A (on both sides of audiocassette tape 1): engine music.  Reel side B (on both sides of audiocassette tape 2): engine music, Durango to Farmington, caboose, Farmington to Durango (485 and 489), and Chama to Durango. Undated, but circa early 1959. According to the note on the master reel box, the recording was poorly done and needs editing. This reel was with the railroad collection assembled and maintained by Alva Lyons.  Copied (May 1996) from one 7" reel tape onto two 90 minute audiocassette tapes.

  •    7/27/1958 - 3/14/1959.  Sounds of narrow gauge railroads (CSWS recording no. 461).  Digitized!  Click here to listen online:  Side A  ~  Side B.   Reel side A (copied onto audiotape 1, sides a and b): Rio Grande, 0 to 42, told by Bruce Aker (sp?). Reel side B (copied onto both sides of audiocassette tape 2): narrow gauge to Silverton. According to the note on the master reel box, Bruce Aker sent this tape to Alva Lyons on March 14, 1959; John Braggs made the record between Alamosa and Chama; Jim Stevens recorded the sounds from Romeo to Antonito with Engines 480 and 490. Copied onto two 90 minute audiocassette tapes in May 1996 from one 7" magnetic tape reel.  Digitized 5/1/2006 through the Center's grant with the Collaborative Digitization Project (Todd Ellison, Project Director).

  • 4/28-30/1966.  Additional sounds of narrow gauge railroads, apparently recorded by Alva Lyons (CSWS recording no. 460). Copied from one 7" 1.5 mil acetate reel onto two 90-minute audiocassettes, May 1996.

  •    8/14/1966.  Sounds of narrow gauge railroads (CSWS recording no. 459). Digitized!  Click here to listen online:  Side A  ~  Side B.  Reel side A: voice of Bill Fletcher, President, Railroad Club, on Durango and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge railroad, Durango to Hermosa, August 14, 1966. Reel side B: Leadville to Climax climb; 0 to 74, by Elolte Larsen; Engine #641, 2-8-0 10 car drag, standard gauge...; Engine #478, 95 to 150; Engines #476 and 483, 150 to 210; thunderstorm, 223 to 320; 321 to end, organ music (see reel box for more details), April 17 (1967?). Copied (May, 1996) from one 5" 1.5 mil acetate reel tape onto one 90-minute audiocassette.  (Digital recording contents note: the first seconds of Side A is the voice of Gayle Maloy or Louis L'Amour at the Ignacio peace treaty ceremony; skip past that to hear Mr. Fletcher's introduction to his compilation of railroad sounds.)

Transcribed interviews in the Southwest oral history collection:

  •    Oral history interview of Alfred G. Chione, M.D., by Todd Ellison, November 21, 1996.  (CSWS interview no. 487). Digitized!  Click here to listen online:  Side A  ~  Side B.  Interview excerpt: "You know, with railroaders, you never to listen to one of them when they were by themselves because they fib.  They tell stories that are fibs, but when you get them all together, they kind of watch what they say."  (Dr. Chione donated much of Rio Grande Southern Railroad records and photographs that are at the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College.)

  •    Oral history interview of Alva Lyons by Robert W. Delaney, June 25, 1982 (CSWS interview no. 463). Digitized!  Click here to listen online:  Side A  ~  Side B Transcribed by Catherine Conrad on April 3, 1996; edited by Todd Ellison on April 4, 1996. Release signed by Dr. Delaney and Center of Southwest Studies 1/98. Release signed 10/24/2005 by Alva Lyons' daughter Martha McDaniel.  Also, click to read the transcription of this interview: 6/25/82.  (Requires Adobe Reader free downloadable software, version 6.0 or more recent.)

  •    Oral history interview of Alva Lyons by Robert W. Delaney, June 29, 1982 (CSWS interview no. 464). Digitized!  Click here to listen online:  Side A  ~  Side B Transcribed by Catherine Conrad on March 26, 1996; edited by Todd Ellison on April 4, 1996. Release signed by Dr. Delaney and Center 1/1998. Release signed 10/24/2005 by Alva Lyons' daughter Martha McDaniel.  Also, click to read the transcription of this interview: 6/29/82.  (Requires Adobe Reader free downloadable software, version 6.0 or more recent.)

  • Oral history interview of Alva Lyons by Robert W. Delaney, July 1, 1982 (CSWS interview no. 465). Transcribed by Catherine Conrad on March 29, 1996; edited by Todd Ellison on April 4, 1996. Release signed by Dr. Delaney and Center of Southwest Studies 1/1998. Release signed 10/24/2005 by Alva Lyons' daughter Martha McDaniel.

  • Oral history interview of Alva Lyons by Robert W. Delaney, July 7, 1982 (CSWS interview no. 466). Transcribed by Catherine Conrad on April 2, 1996; edited by Todd Ellison on April 4, 1996. Release signed by Dr. Delaney and Center of Southwest Studies 1/1998. Release signed 10/24/2005 by Alva Lyons' daughter Martha McDaniel.

  • Oral history interview of Alva Lyons by Robert W. Delaney, July 12, 1982 (CSWS interview no. 467). Topics included Masonic origins, his enjoyment of being a trainman, and advice for the Durango and Silverton railroad. Stopped at 204 on counter.  Transcribed by Catherine Conrad on April 3, 1996; edited by Todd Ellison on April 3, 1996.  Release signed by Dr. Delaney and Center of Southwest Studies 1/1998.  Release signed 10/24/2005 by Alva Lyons' daughter Martha McDaniel.

  • Oral history interviews of Alva Lyons by Rae Haynes, September 20, 1989 through November 24 (CSWS interview nos. 159 - 163).  Topics include the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.  Transcribed by Catherine Conrad at the Southwest Studies Center, Nov. 12, 1990; edited by Todd Ellison on April 4, 1996. Release signed 10/24/2005 by Alva Lyons' daughter Martha McDaniel, and by Rae Haynes on 3/14/06. Archival intern Renee Morgan updated the transcripts in January/February 2008 using comments written by Martha McDaniel in 1991.  Click to read the transcription of the following interviews: 9/20/89, 9/27/89, 10/26/89, 11/10/89, and 11/24/89.  (Requires Adobe Reader free downloadable software, version 6.0 or more recent.)

Books about the Rio Grande Southern Railroad:

  • A financial analysis of the operations of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad during World War I / by Vernon E.  Lynch, Jr., Fort Lewis College.  Published: 1983?.  [12] leaves: tables; 28 cm..  Presented at the annual meeting of the Economic and Business Historical Society, 1983.  Call number Oversize HE2791.R6415 L9 1983 in the Delaney Southwest Research Library.  Written by a Fort Lewis College Professor of Business.

  • There are about 25 linear shelf feet of books published on this railroad.  It may be the most well documented railroad in the world.  One of them is by Mallory Hope Ferrell, entitled Silver San Juan: the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (Boulder, Colo., Pruett Pub. Co. [1973], Library of Congress call number HE2791.R635 F47).  It is out of print, but possibly available from some library through Inter Library Loan.  Another good book is by Josie Crum: The Rio Grande Southern story (Durango, Colo., Railroadiana, 1957).

For RGS reference tips, visit  http://rgsrr.home.comcast.net/rgs/refs.html and http://rgs.railfan.net/reference.html .


Historical note

The Rio Grande Southern Railroad (1890-1960)

"A narrow-gauge line built by Otto Mears and investors in Denver, the Rio Grande Southern Railroad served the western area of the San Juans, with its circuitous route passing through Telluride, Ophir, Lizard Head Pass, Rico, Dolores, and Hesperus.  This route was necessitated by the rugged terrain of the mountains and Uncompahgre Gorge, and it advantageously served important mining areas, lumber operations, and a coal mine.  Its operation was dependent on connections with the D&RG on the north at Ridgway and on the south at Durango.  It reached Rico in 1891, thereby eliminating most traffic on the former Rockwood and Rico Wagon Road, and it reached Durango from the west in 1893.  The line was abandoned in 1951.  Its trains carried freight and passengers, usually with a mixed train.  Between 1931 and abandonment, the line’s seven Galloping Geese provided passenger and mail service with cars built with automobile engines and rail wheels.  Treasured by nostalgic rail fans today, they were important to the way of life of local people and businesses along the line during the Depression and World War II.  Galloping Goose No. 5, restored and operational, is kept at Dolores, while five others still exist elsewhere.  Several short lines connected lumber camps and mines to the Rio Grande Southern.  A spur of the RGS operated at Parrott (Mayday) from 1906 to 1926. The spur began west of Hesperus."  (Source: Living in the San Juan Mountains: Prospectus on Traditional Cultural Properties on the San Juan National Forest and adjacent public lands: San Juan Traditional Cultural Properties Team Scoping Document/ Working Paper, edited by Dr. Andrew Gulliford, March 2003).


Denver & Rio Grande Railroad map of railroads in Southwestern Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico

(click on map to open a larger image):

 

 

Also of interest and available on the Web:

Digital images of approximately 367 photoprints from the Center's collection of  Rio Grande Southern Railroad photographs  are accessible online.

Rates of freight (see page 4 for transportation through Durango, Colorado) 
(click on item to open a larger image)
:


Administrative information

Acquisition information:  The Center of Southwest Studies acquired these materials as a series of gifts

from Dr. Alfred G. Chione of Morton, Illinois(accessions 1968:02009, 1994:05003, and 1999:01009A).

Processing information: Center of Southwest Studies student archival assistant Tom Barber assisted with initial processing of this collection in December of 1993, under the supervision of Archivist Todd Ellison, including preliminary assignment of series titles and series numbers.  The Center's archival volunteers Paula Wiseman and Dr. Bud Davis devoted most of their hundreds of work hours to this project in 2007, and completed the arrangement of the collection.  (As a result of changes in the series organization, some of the series numbers we originally assigned are no longer used.)  Professional Native American Archival Assistant Renee Morgan typed up the folder list and produced the box labels in the winter of early 2008. This inventory was prepared by Fort Lewis College archivist Todd Ellison (last revised in February of 2008).

Subject cataloging access points:
Railroads--Colorado--Records and correspondence
Railroads, Narrow-gauge

Provenance of this collection:This was one of the very first archival accessions of the new special collections repository/ museum at the Center of Southwest Studies.  Dr. Chione had been visiting Durango since the 1940s.  He worked on the railroad from high school days and continuing through his medical school studies and his medical work, coming to Colorado each February while he was in the early phases of his medical training and riding the narrow gauge trains on the Western Slope.  Dr. Chione’s father was an engineer on the Burlington Railroad.

These records were maintained by the general offices of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad in Ridgway, Colorado.  Due to the demise of that company after World War II (when its business was boosted by transporting uranium ore south to Durango for processing at the smelter), the Railroad was about to take the records to the dump in 1952, and (Ed Randall, the manager) gave Dr. Chione permission to look through two narrow-gauge boxcars where all the records had been moved from the offices, and permission to take whatever he wanted.  Dr. Chione spent three days in the box cars with a flashlight selecting a representative and useful sample of the records, and  took a carload of them (those which he saw that seemed to have the greatest historical value) back to his home in southern Illinois where he organized them.  He had much of the correspondence and other sequentially ordered records bound in hardcover volumes in Bloomington to preserve their original order.  To quote Dr. Chione's son Al Chione, Jr. (interviewed by Todd Ellison by phone on Sept. 27, 1996), "the crumbs were scattered to the four winds."  Among those whom Dr. Chione beat to the punch in retrieving the best records were Bob Richardson, who is a former director of the railroad museum in Golden, Colorado.  He took some of the "crumbs".  According to Mr. Chione, Jr., Mr. Richardson "flew into a rage when he heard that Fort Lewis College got [the records] in 1968."   Richardson's book, Chasing Trains, contains some words regarding this incident which are disputed by the Chiones.

Looking for a suitable repository to house these materials, he considered Durango--the southern terminus of the railroad--a logical choice.  Through a series of correspondence with the Center's first director, Dr. Robert Delaney, Dr. Chione shipped the materials to the Center in 1967-1968.

Mr. Chione, Jr. has told Ellison that "we wouldn't want this [collection] in any place than where it is, at [the Center of Southwest Studies]."  Dr. Chione, age 82 as of this writing [Oct. 1996; since then, deceased], is a retired physician.  He signed a deed of gift retroactively to document his donation.  His son Al has had a residence near the tracks of the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by the Rockwood slope north of Durango, and markets railroad scenes slides.  Dr. Chione sold the negatives of this collection years ago to Dr. John Hubbard, a Decatur, Illinois retired neurosurgeon [now also deceased] who (according to Mr. Chione), "knows more about the Rio Grande Southern than anyone else."  Todd Ellison conducted a 55-minute oral history long-distance phone interview with Dr. Chione on November 21, 1996, in which Dr. Chione discussed his first involvements with railroads, his experiences riding in the caboose and (later) in the Galloping Goose converted railroad bus car, his associations with RGS employees in Ridgway, how he acquired the collection, and how he worked with it and donated it to the Center of Southwest Studies.  The tape and transcript are in the Southwest oral history collection at the Center, interview number 487.


Series descriptions 

Note: Subgroups (SGs) of the Rio Grande Southern archives, shown in boldface, are numbered consecutively.  The lower levels of organization, following the SG number, are the series (e.g., data sheets, payrolls, correspon­dence, and reports from a given office).  Box numbers start with 1 in each in each subgroup.

Materials within most subgroups are organized from highest hierarchical level to lowest, or from most general to most specific, and/or from oldest to most recent.  For the most part, items within each series and within each box and folder are arranged chronologically, unless noted otherwise.

Subgroup 1: Railroad printed materials

1.1              Rio Grande Southern legal documents, 1890-1920, 2 folders, in box 1.  Includes two items: (1) the executed copy of a federal agreement that was a printed contract (18 pages) between the Director General of Railroads and the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, 1920 Feb. 28 (1 volume) and (2) agreement to establish the railroad terminal that became Ridgway, Colorado.

1.2              Railroad rules and regulations, 1906-1937.  3 folders, in box 1.

1.3              Railroad bulletins, 1902-1951.  7 folders, in box 1.

1.4              Railroad timetables, 1939-1950.  5 folders, in box 2.

1.5              Rio Grande Railroad system fare rates, freight rates, and schedules, 1884-.  1 folder, in box 2.

1.6         Rio Grande Southern passenger tickets and ticket stubs, 1894-1950.  16 folders, in box 3.

1.7          Other railroads’ tickets, circa 1922-1935.  9 folders, in box 4.

1.8          Rio Grande Southern blank forms and reports, 1890-1959.  31 folders, in boxes 4 and 5.

1.9          Rio Grande Southern and other railroads’ newspaper clippings, newsletters, advertisements, and pamphlets, circa 1901-1982.  14 folders, in boxes 5 and 6.

1.10          Books, about railroad operations, 1897-1961, 2 folders, in box 7.  Note: this series also includes the following, not shelved with this collection:

·                    Modern American Railway Practice: A complete system of practical instruction in railway transportation, by the National Institute of Practical Mechanics, 1913, 10 volumes.  (Call number TF7.S9 -- these are shelved with the regular books in the Robert Delaney Southwest Research Library.)

 

Subgroup 2:  Administrative records and correspondence 

2.1              Construction company correspondence, 1890-1893.  3 folders, in box 8.  Includes some barely legible telegrams relating to railroad construction, including bridges and buildings.

2.2        Otto Mears records and printed materials, 1891-1962.  6 folders, in box 9.  Includes 1 volume of his receipts, 1891-1892, and 1 volume about his passes, 1892-1893.  Otto Mears was the president of the railroad company.  The volume contains 38 pages of vouchers, correspondence, etc. related primarily to the silver filigree passes, but other types of passes such as The Leather Pass are also mentioned.   Items specifically related to the silver filigree pass include vouchers from The Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company to S. Spitz, manufacturer of Mexican Filigree Jewelry for the purchase of passes.  For example, the first page is Voucher #139 dated July12, 1892 for 32 silver filigree passes @$4.00 for a total of $128.00.  This voucher also includes a credit for one pass for M. Frost bringing the total to $124.00.  On another page there is a bill for Voucher #531 dated September 30, 1892 for 11 silver filigree passes @ $4.00 for a total of $44.00.  Other pages include letters of correspondence between the two companies regarding credits for gold not used, vouchers for purchases of other types of passes, vouchers for engraving passes, and small narrative descriptions added to each page.  An example of the narrative is a voucher from December 28, 1892 for five silver filigree passes.  The narrative mentions the purchase of the passes in December, the date the passes were paid for, and that this raises the number of silver filigree passes to 539.

2.3          General Office correspondence, 1892-1915.  18 bound volumes, in 18 folders in boxes 9-13.

2.4          General and miscellaneous correspondence, 1891-1917.  24 bound volumes, in 24 folders in boxes 14-18.

2.5          Vice President's correspondence, 1904-1914.  3 bound volumes, in 3 folders in box 19.  Missing/ gap: 1907-1909.

2.6          General Superintendent's correspondence, 1897-1913.  15 bound volumes, in 15 folders in boxes 20-23.  Includes one volume of Assistant Superintendent’s correspondence, 1891-1895.

2.7          General Manager's correspondence, 1907-1908.  1 volume, in box 24.

 

Subgroup 3: Financial records

3.1              Accounting Department and Treasury Department instructions, 1916.  1 folder, in box 25.

3.2              Distribution of expenses, 1892-1895.  3 bound volumes, in 3 folders in box 25.

3.4              Auditor's records, 1892-1917.  4 folders in box 26.

3.6              Financial statements, 1893-1898, 9 bound volumes.  9 folders, in boxes 27 and 28.

3.7              Stock and bond records, circa 1890-1918.  6 folders, in boxes 28-31.  Includes a stock register, circa 1890-1923, 1 volume, 2 document cases of bond coupons.  Listing, by stockholder, of capital stock share ownership.  Volume is 3/4 blank.  Also, certificates of stock shares, 1890-1893 and 1917.

3.9              Income and operating expenses records, 1891-1928.  16 folders, in boxes 32 and 33.  Includes profit and loss statements, income and disbursements records, assets statements, and income and expenditures reports.

3.10          Cashbooks, 1893-1913, 13 bound volumes.  13 folders, in boxes 34-40.

3.11          Journals, 1893-1932, 11 bound volumes.  11 folders, in boxes 41-46.

3.12          Jeffery receivership records, 1890-1896.  8 folders, in box 47.   Includes a volume of legal papers (including trial expense sheets) for the case of Denver & Rio Grande Railroad vs. Rio Grande Southern Railroad and a similarly bound report to the receiver, both in 1893, and a volume entitled "memo balance book" which is full of lists of railroad agents, stations, and passenger and freight statistics for the period 1894 Aug.- 1896 Aug.  Edward T. Jeffery was the court-appointed receiver.

3.13          Ledgers, 1895-1921, 1929, 13 volumes.  13 folders, in boxes 48-53.  Includes a volume labeled "corporate ledger," 1918-1920, and a volume labeled "federal ledger," 1917-1920.  This list railroad accounts and expenses. Missing/gap: 1899-1902. 

3.15          Federal journal, 1918-1923, 1 bound volume, in box 54.  This volume, written in Denver, contains financial accounts.

3.17          Record of vouchers, 1892-1895, 2 bound volumes.  2 folders, in box 55.

3.18          Vouchers, billing records, and bills for vouchers, 1890-1899, and 1906-1922, 7 bound volumes, and unbound records.  65 folders, in boxes 55-58.  These were requests for payment from the Rio Grande Southern for supplies and services it received, including a wide scope of things such as rental of locomotives, purchase of meals for employees, and refunds of freight payments.  Includes general releases.

3.19          Claims, 1892-1918, 7 bound volumes, and unbound records.  16 folders, in boxes 59-60.  These include claims for livestock killed by the trains, and for damaged or lost goods.  Includes correspondence about claims, bills collectible, rent collection records, and certificates for payments due.

3.20          Freight records and correspondence, including freight waybills, 1884-1949, 2 bound volumes, and unbound records.  27 folders, in boxes 61 and 62.  One of the volumes is a fragile letterpress copybook of financial figures from October 1891 through January 1898, including rail reports, train service figures, fuel balance sheets, reports of coal received, inventories of tools and supplies, inventories of track material on line, joint inspector's monthly reports, receiver's reports, material distribution reports (by station--largest section of the volume), list of locomotives and the condition of each on March 28 ,1896, descriptive list of buildings and bridges etc., and annual report (with supplementary schedules) to the State Board of Equalization on December 31, 1895.  This series also includes post card bills for coal and other freight shipments, and freight waybills.  Also, ore transportation requests, billing records, notices of freight on hand, and livestock contracts.

3.21          Receipts and other completed financial forms, 1943-1944.  1 folder, in box 62.

3.22          Interline checks, circa 1892 - circa 1930, 3 bound volumes and unbound records.  77 folders, in boxes 62 and 63.  These are checks written to and from the Rio Grande Southern and associated railroads.

3.24         Distribution of materials including: rails, bridges, and real estate, 1891-1896.  1 folder, in box 64.

3.25         General store reports, 1892-1904.  2 folders, in box 65.

 

Subgroup 4: Personnel records

4.1              Payroll checks and vouchers for severance pay, 1891-1931.  10 folders, in box 66.

4.2              Unclaimed wages records, 1890-1895, 2 bound volumes.  2 folders, in box 66.  See also Series 3.12 (receipts for wages under the Jeffery receivership, June – August, 1916.

4.3              Payroll identification records, 1916.  1 folder, in box 66.

4.4              Pinkerton investigation records, circa 1891. 1 bound volume in 1 folder in box 66.  Records pertaining to a legal investigation of company employees.

4.5              Assignments and garnishments records, 1929.  1 folder in box 66.  See also Series 3.12 (records of the Jeffery receivership

4.6              Time rolls, overtime statements, and receipts for payment for services, 1932 and 1950.  2 folders in box 66.

 

Subgroup 5: Railroad operations records

5.1                           Right of way records, circa 1908-1951, 1 bound volume and unbound records.   14 folders, in boxes 67 and 68.  Maps, blueprints, and statements of claims pertaining to Rio Grande Southern routes, and abandonment records.

5.2              Inventories and rosters, circa 1893-1939, 4 bound volumes and unbound records.  6 folders, in box 69.  Includes summaries of railroad equipment, track, and mileposts and stations information.

5.3              Interstate Commerce Commission / interstate and intrastate railroad operations records and correspondence, 1931 and 1936.  2 folders, in box 69.These include records of tariffs and Colorado inter-railroad traffic.

5.4              Motive power correspondence, 1891-1892, 1 bound volume.  1 folder, in box 69.

5.5              Train orders, 1892 Apr. 12 - May 28 and 1936-1951 with many gaps, in 1 bound volume and unbound records.  2 folders, in boxes 69 and 70. Daily instructions for engine runs.

5.6              Return of time/ train report books, 1891-1951, 5 bound volumes and unbound records.  10 folders, in box 70-72.  These are records of passenger and freight mileage etc. statistics for individual runs.   Also includes conductors’ trip reports, trip records, and notes (most, of Alva A. Lyons).

5.7              Tally sheets, 1902-1903, 1 bound volume.  1 folder, in box 73.  These records contain such facts as train arrival and departure times and daily engine mileage figures.

5.8              Railroad ties correspondence, 1901-1906, 1 bound volume.  1 folder, in box 74.  Documents pertaining to the company's contracts and purchases of railroad ties.

5.9              Accident reports, 1890-1928, 4 bound volumes and unbound records.  13 folders, in boxes 74 and 75.   Also flood reports and damage reports.  Includes Peake accident investigation records, 1919, 2 bound volumes: records relating to inquiries after the accident when a train ran off a damaged bridge, causing the death of Engineer Peake.  Also in this series: video of 1921 train derailment, by Jim Jarvis.

5.10          Personal injury record and stock book, circa 1893-1894 (?), 1 bound volume.  1 folder, in box 76.

5.11          Livestock injury correspondence, 1912-1918, 1 bound volume.  1 folder, in box 76. Documents relating to railroad accidents in which livestock was injured; includes valuations of the animal's condition and value, etc.

5.12          Master mechanic's correspondence, 1903-1904 and 1912-1916, 3 bound volumes.  3 folders, in box 76.  Communications to and from the Master Mechanic, Assistant Superintendents, and others involved with the daily operations of the railroad.

5.13          Equipment/ engine repairs records and inspection reports, 1902-1944, 1 bound volume and unbound records.  5 folders, in box 77.

5.14          Foreign roads records, 1891-1928, 1 bound volume and unbound records.  5 folders, in box 77.  Includes foreign car mileage reports/invoices.

5.16          Private cars scrapbooks, 2 bound volumes.  2 folders, in box 78.  Printed materials, including memorabilia and newspaper clippings, pertaining to private railroad passenger cars, including the Nomad.  The second volume, of newspaper clippings, awaits archival preservation photocopying.

5.17          Telluride station records, July and August, 1927.  1 folder, in box 79.

5.20          Railroad route blueprints and plats.  3 folders in box 80, and (most of these) oversize and extra-oversize flat file drawers.

 

Collection P 026: Rio Grande Southern Railroad photographs

                   Related guide: see the index to the photograph collection, 1 volume, at the end of Collection M 019.


Container list
 

Series Box

Folder

Folder title Date(s)
1.1 1

1

Agreement for assumption of operation of RGS by Director General of Railroads of the United States

1920
1.1 1

2

Agreement between Otto Mears, Fred Walsen and D.C. Hartwell establishing the railroad terminal that became Ridgway, Colorado

1890-02-28

1.2 1

3

Book of rules

1928
1.2 1

4

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company circular no. 2, instructions on passenger train handling

1918
1.2 1

5

Instructions and supplements for general, to conductors, etc., locomotive fireman, and red ball freight system and safety instructions.

1906/1937
1.3 1

6

Bulletins

1947/1951
1.3 1

7

Wire bulletins

1949
1.3 1

8

Bureau of Explosives Bulletin #25

1940
1.3 1

9

Denver and Rio Grande/Rio Grande Southern joint circular 227-1908 instructions regarding clergy certificates and tickets

1908
1.3 1

10

The Rio Grande Western Railroad Company boarding boss circular No. 13,

1902-06-01
1.3 1

11

Boarding boss circular #21

1902
1.3 1

12

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Co., Rio Grande Western Railway Co., and Rio Grande Southern Railroad Co., joint circular

1902-11-04
1.4 2

1

Timetables

1939/1943
1.4 2

2

Timetables (extras/ duplicates for display, etc.)

1939/1940
1.4 2

3

Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company timetable no. 5

1943-02-14
1.4 2

4

The official guide of the railways and steam navigation lines of the United States, Porto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba (plus airline schedules)

1938-10/
1945-09
1.4 2

5

The official guide of the railways and steam navigation lines of the United States, Porto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba (also Central America plus air line schedules)

1950-01
1.5 2

6

Fare rates and schedules, Rio Grande Railroad system

Undated
1.6 3

1

Passenger tickets, Vol. 1

1894/1930
1.6 3

2

Passenger tickets, Vol. 2

1916/1950
1.6 3

3

Agent’s ticket stubs, prepaid order

1896
1.6 3

4

Agents ticket stubs

1894/1928
1.6 3

5

Agents ticket stubs

1946
1.6 3

6

Agents ticket stubs

1947/1949
1.6 3

7

Agents ticket stubs

1951
1.6 3

8

Parlor car ticket-passenger check

Undated
1.6 3

9

Parlor car tickets, form local 43-4 (unused)

Undated
1.6 3

10

Rio Grande Railroad ticket stubs from Alva Lyons

Undated
1.6 3

11

Passenger ticket tracers

1913/1923
1.6 3

12

Interline passenger tickets- Rio Grande Southern and Denver and Rio Grande

1916/1923
1.6 3

13

Ticket honored (not taken up) form 1024-5m-6-23

1923
1.6 3

14

Trip pass coupon, going trip

1930/1935

1.6

3

15

Trip pass

1930
1.6 3

16

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Co. passenger’s check (seat assignment)

1937
1.7 4

1

Passenger tickets, all railroads, Vol. 1

1923/1935
1.7 4

2

Ticket stubs all railroads

Undated
1.7 4

3

Passenger tickets issued by Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company

1923
1.7 4

4

Passenger tickets issued by the Golf Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad

1922/1923
1.7 4

5

Passenger tickets issued by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad

1923
1.7 4

6

Passenger tickets issued by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company

1923
1.7 4

7

Passenger tickets Silverton Northern Railroad Co.

Undated
1.7 4

8

Passenger tickets issued by Southern Pacific Company

1923
1.7 4

9

Passenger tickets issued by the Union Pacific System

1923
1.8 4

10

Blank forms Rio Grande Southern Vol. 1

Undated
1.8 4

11

Advanced charges draft- Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Co. (blank forms)

1890/1899
1.8 4

12

Annual locomotive inspection and repair report, form 1m-5-26 (blank, unused)

1915
1.8 4

13

Annual locomotive inspection and repair report, Rio Grande Southern form 813-1M-9-43-news (blank, unused)

1915
1.8 4

14

Cars on hand, Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3872 (blank, unused)

Undated
1.8 4

15

Cash fare train tickets, Denver Rio Grand Western Railroad Co. (blank, unused)

Undated
1.8 4

16

Conductor’s blind siding report, Denver and Rio Grande West form 3929 (blank, unused)

19__
1.8 4

17

Daily performance report, Rio Grande Southern Form 809-3M-siler 1-51 (blank, unused)

1950/1959
1.8 5

1

Empty slip bill home route card, Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3611 (blank, unused)

1930/1939
1.8 5

2

Engineer’s report of stock killed or injured; Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3511 (blank, unused)

19__
1.8 5

3

Form for employees to accept provisions of the Rio Grand Southern Railroad hospital fund (blank, unused)

1941
1.8 5

4

Forms from other railroads (blank, unused)

Undated
1.8 5

5

Freight waybill, Rio Grande Southern form 1014 (blank, unused)

Undated
1.8 5

6

Monthly locomotive unit inspection and repair report, form No. 1-A (blank, unused)

Undated
1.8 5

7

Monthly locomotive unit inspection and repair report, form No. 1-A-3M-2-37 (blank, unused)

Undated

1.8

5

8

Office record of boilers washed and gauge cock spindles and water glass cocks removed and cleaned, Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3564 (blank, unused)

19__

1.8

5

9

Oder bill of lading, Rio Grande Southern form 1029 (blank, unused)

1908

1.8

5

10

Pass identification card form 126 (blank, unused)

1920/1929

1.8

5

11

Record of test, Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3418 section 6 (blank, unused)

Undated

1.8

5

12

Rest register for trainmen and engine man, Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3263 (blank0

19__

1.8

5

13

Rio Grande Southern envelope, Pierpont Fuller Jr., receiver; Denver and Rio Grande Western envelope form 3891 for money only (blank, unused)

Undated

1.8

5

14

Shipping stickers- The “Galloping Goose” Line

Undated

1.8

5

15

Station agent’s daily running record of carload shipments of fresh/ dried fruits or vegetables, form FV-28 (blank, unused)

Undated

1.8

5

16

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company telegram, form 5002 (blank, unused)

Undated

1.8

5

17

Train order, Denver and Rio Grande Western form 3250 (blank, unused)

19__

1.8

5

18

Trip report book, form 724 (blank, unused)

1940/1949

1.8

5

19

Train report of ticket and cash collection form 1203-1M-4-45-siler (blank, unused)

1940/1949

1.8

5

20

Uniform live stock contract, form 386-1M-9-34-C (blank, unused)

1930-08-01

1.8

5

21

Uniform straight bill of lading, Rio Grande Southern form 1028 (blank, unused)

1941

1.8

5

22

Waybill correction form 1006-12-49 (blank, unused)

19__

1.8

5

23

Western Union telegram (blank form)

191_

1.9

5

24

Rocky Mountain Views on the Rio Grande

circa 1917

1.9

5

25

Flyer advertisement for excursion to Mesa Verde via Denver and Rio Grande and Rio Grande Southern

1901-09-03

1.9

5

26

Advertisement for “The Rio Grande Southern Story” by Josie Moore Crum

1955

1.9

5

27

Trip schedules, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

Undated

1.9

5

28

“Animas Adventure” published in Colorado Wonderland (about the Denver and Rio Grande Western)

1955-06

1.9

5

29

Narrow gauge railroad newspaper clippings

1950/1960

1.9

5

30

Narrow gauge railroad newspaper clippings

Undated

1.9

5

31

Newspaper article about the demise of the Galloping Goose

Undated

1.9

5

32

Private cars available for charter on Silverton Ron, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

Undated

1.9

5

33

Iron Horse News, by the Colorado Railroad Museum

1959/1961

1.9

5

34

Other railroad publications

1953/1980

1.9

5

35

Christmas greetings

1949

1.9

6

1

Newspaper article on purchase of Durango-Silverton Railroad

1982-01-12

1.9

6

2

Newspaper advertising

1960s

1.10

7

1

The Rio Grande Southern: An index to published photographs

Undated

1.10

7

2

Pamphlets and other railroads

1914/1961

1.10

7

3

Baldwin Locomotive Works, illustrated catalog of narrow gauge locomotives

1897

2.1

8

1

Construction company correspondence

1890/1891

2.1

8

2

Building and bridge correspondence

1892/1893

2.1

8

3

Bridge and building record

1890/1897

2.2

9

1

Ballad of Otto Mears

1926

2.2

9

2

Otto Mears silver filigree passes, photographs of

1892/1894

2.2

9

3

Otto Mears railroad passes

1942

2.2

9

4

Otto Mears newspaper articles

1959/1962

2.2

9

5

Order envelopes, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Co., form 5043

Undated

2.2

9

6

Mears system of toll roads, correspondence

1886-03

2.3

9

7

General office correspondence

1890/1892

2.3

9

8

General office correspondence

1892

2.3

9

9

General office correspondence

1896

2.3

10

1

General office correspondence

1896/1897

2.3

10

2

General office correspondence

1896/1899

2.3

10

3

General office correspondence

1897/1898

2.3

10

4

General office correspondence

1898

2.3

11

1

General office correspondence

1898/1899

2.3

11

2

General office correspondence

1899/1900

2.3

11

3

General office correspondence

1900

2.3

11

4

General office correspondence

1900/1901

2.3

12

1

General office correspondence

1902/1904

2.3

12

2

General office correspondence

1904/1906

2.3

12

3

General office correspondence

1906/1907

2.3

12

4

General office correspondence

1907/1909

2.3

13

1

General office correspondence

1910/1912

2.3

13

2

General office correspondence

1912/1915

2.3

13

3

General office correspondence

1915/1917

2.4

14

1

Miscellaneous correspondence

1891

2.4

14

2

Miscellaneous correspondence

1892

2.4

14

3

Miscellaneous correspondence

1893

2.4

14

4

Miscellaneous correspondence

1894

2.4

14

5

Miscellaneous correspondence

1899

2.4

15

1

Index to miscellaneous letter book

1892

2.4

15

2

Miscellaneous correspondence

1892/1894

2.4

15

3

Miscellaneous correspondence

1894

2.4

15

4

Miscellaneous correspondence

1892/1897

2.4

15

5

Correspondence- Rio Grande Southern, Denver and Rio Grande, Florence and Cripple Creek Railroads

1896

2.4

15

6

Miscellaneous correspondence (scrapbook)

1893

2.4

15

7

Miscellaneous correspondence

1897/1898

2.4

16

1

Miscellaneous correspondence

1898/1899

2.4

16

2

Miscellaneous correspondence

1900

2.4

16

3

Miscellaneous correspondence

1901

2.4

16

4

Miscellaneous correspondence

1903/1904

2.4

17

1

Miscellaneous correspondence

1907

2.4

17

2

Miscellaneous correspondence

1907/1908

2.4

17

3

Miscellaneous correspondence

1910/1911

2.4

17

4

Miscellaneous correspondence

1913/1914

2.4

18

1

Miscellaneous correspondence

1914/1916

2.4

18

2

Miscellaneous correspondence

1916

2.4

18

3

Miscellaneous correspondence

1916/1917

2.4

18

4

Miscellaneous correspondence

1939

2.5

19

1

Vice President’s correspondence

1904/1906

2.5

19

2

Vice President’s correspondence

1910/1911

2.5

19

3

Vice President’s correspondence

1912/1914

2.6

20

1

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1897/1901

2.6

20

2

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1899/1917

2.6

21

1

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1899/1900

2.6

21

2

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1900

2.6

21

3

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1901/1903

2.6

21

4

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1912/1913

2.6

21

5

Internal management directories, Superintendent’s Office

1902

2.6

22

1

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1903/1904

2.6

22

2

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1905/1907

2.6

22

3

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1906/1907

2.6

22

4

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1908/1909

2.6

23

1

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1909/1910

2.6

23

2

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1911/1912

2.6

23

3

General Superintendent’s correspondence

1912/1913

2.6

23

4

Assistant Superintendent’s correspondence

1891/1895

2.7

24

1

General Manager’s correspondence

1907/1908

3.1

25

1

Instruction to Treasury Department

1916-01-01

3.2

25

2

Distribution of expenses

1892-02-01/
1892-06-30

3.2

25

3

Distribution of expenses

1893-08/
1895-06

3.2

25

4

Distribution of expenses

1892/1895

3.3

 

 

{there is no Series 3.3)

 

3.4

26

1

Auditor’s records

1892

3.4

26

2

Audited accounts

1892-02-01/ 1893-07-031

3.4

26

3

Audited accounts

1893-08-01/ 1895-12-01

3.4

26

4

Auditor’s reports

1910/1913

3.4

26

5

Auditor’s correspondence

1913/1917

3.5

 

 

{there is no Series 3.5}

 

3.6

27

1

Financial statements, vol. 1

1893

3.6

27

2

Financial statements, vol. 2

1893

3.6

27

3

Financial statements, vol. 1

1894

3.6

27

4

Financial statements, vol. 2

1894

3.6

27

5

Financial statements, vol. 1

1895

3.6

27

6

Financial statements, vol. 2

1895

3.6

27

7

Financial statements

1894/1897

3.6

27

8

Financial statements

1897/1898

3.6

28

1

Miscellaneous statements (balance sheets, etc)

1903-03/
1909-12

3.7

28

2

Stock and bond records

1890/1923

3.7

28

3

Stock register- capital stock Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company

Undated

3.7

29

 

Stock and bond records (bond coupons)

1890s/1900s

3.7

30

 

Stock and bond records (bond coupons)

1890s/1900s

3.7

31

1

Certificates of stock shares

1890/1918

3.7

31

2

Annual report to the stock holders of Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company

1899
3.7 31

3

Certificate of Deposit (bond issuance)

1922

3.8

 

 

{there is no Series 3.8}

 

3.9

32

1

Denver and Rio Grande Express with Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company- earning statements

1891/1893

3.9

32

2

Western Union Telegraph Company on Rio Grande Southern Line, income and expenditures

1891/1893

3.9

32

3

Correspondence regarding lost of doing business

1893/1943

3.9

32

4

Ticket redemption drafts

1894/1924

3.9

32

5

Statements of assets

1895

3.9

32

6

Profit and loss statements

1896

3.9

32

7

Profit and loss statements

1905

3.9

32

8

Profit and loss statements

1918

3.9

32

9

Profit and loss statements

1920

3.9

32

10

Profit and loss statements

1926/1928

3.9

32

11

Operating expenses, vol. 1

1895-07/
1900-06

3.9

32

12

Ticket sales statements

1901/1902

3.9

32

13

Statement of assets

1917

3.9

32

14

Income and disbursements

1919-12

3.9

33

1

Miscellaneous operating statistics

1904/1909

3.9

33

2

Miscellaneous materials reports

1909/1914

3.10

34

1

Cash book

1893-05-01/ 1893-08-01

3.10

34

2

Cash book treasurer’s office

1895-12-02/ 1898-10-31

3.10

35

1

Cash book receiver’s (duplicate)

1893-08-02/ 1894-11-30

3.10

35

1

Cash book receiver’s (duplicate)

1893-08-02/ 1894-11-30

3.10

36

1

Cash book receiver’s (duplicate)

1894-12-01/ 1895-12-30

3.10

36

2

Cash book receiver’s (duplicate)

1894-12-01/ 1895-12-30

3.10

37

1

Cash book “B”

1898-11-01/ 1902-05-31

3.10

37

2

Cash book “C’

1902-06-02/ 1906-01-25

3.10

38

1

Cash book “D”

1906-01-26/ 1908-05-30

3.10

38

2

Cash book “E’

1908-06-01/
1910-11-18

3.10

39

1

Cash book “F”

1910-11/
1915-01-31

3.10

40

1

Cash book “G”

1913-04-01/ 1915-03-31

3.10

40

2

Cash book “H”

1915-04-01/ 1917-04-30

3.11

41

1

Journals

1893-08/
1895-12

3.11

41

2

Journals

1895-12/
1899-09

3.11

42

1

Journal “B”

1899-10-01/
1905-07-31

3.11

42

2

Journal

08-03/06-06

3.11

43

1

Journal

1906-07-31/ 1909-06-30

3.11

44

1

Journal “E”

1909-07-31/ 1913-06-30

3.11

45

1

Journal entries

1919

3.11

45

2

Journal entries

1920

3.11

45

3

Day book journal

1931-03-31/ 1932-02-29

3.11

46

1

Journal E-1

1913-07-31/ 1916-12-31

3.11

46

2

Corporate journal

1918-01-01/ 1920-12-31

3.12

47

1

Unclaimed wages: Jeffery receivership

1890/1895

3.12

47

2

Unclaimed wages: Jeffery receivership

1893/1896

3.12

47

3

Assignments and garnishments: Jeffery receivership

1893/1895

3.12

47

4

Rio Grande Southern report to receiver

1893

3.12

47

5

Jeffrey receivership

1893/1896

3.12

47

6

Memo balance book

1894-08/
1896-08

3.12

47

7

Individuals and companies (financial records)

1893-08/
1895-12

3.12

47

8

Special rates and authorities

1893/1895

3.13

48

1

Cash

1893/1895

3.13

48

2

Ledger of operating expenses

1895/1898

3.13

48

3

Rio Grande Southern bills

1925/1930

3.13

49

1

Ledger H

1892/1895

3.13

49

2

Ledger

1903/1916

3.13

50

1

Ledger B

1895-12-01/ 1900-06-30

3.13

50

2

Ledger C

1900-07-01/ 1906-06-30

3.13

51

1

Ledger D

1906/1909

3.13

51

2

Ledger E

1909/1915

3.13

52

1

Ledger D

1909/1917

3.13

52

2

Federal ledger

1918/1921

3.13

53

1

Ledger receiver

1929

3.13

53

2

Corporate ledger

1918/1920

3.14

 

 

{there is no Series 3.14}

 

3.15

54

1

Federal journal

1918/1923

3.16

 

 

{there is no Series 3.16}

 

3.17

55

1

Record of vouchers

1892-02/
1895-02

3.17

55

2

Record of vouchers

1893/1895

3.18

55

3

Vouchers- The Rio Grande Southern Construction Company

1890/1892

3.18

55

4

Bills for vouchers

1890/1892

3.18

56

1

Vouchers, 1-100 and 101-199

1892

3.18

56

2

Vouchers, 200-299 and 300-399

1892

3.18

56

3

Vouchers, 400-500

1892

3.18

56

4

Voucher, bills for voucher, for Mancos Extension

1892

3.18

56

5

Vouchers

1892-05

3.18

56

6

Vouchers

1892-06

3.18

56

7

Vouchers

1892-07

3.18

56

8

Vouchers

1892-08

3.18

56

9

Vouchers

1892-09

3.18

56

10

Vouchers

1892-10

3.18

56

11

Vouchers

1892-11

3.18

56

12

Vouchers

1892-12

3.18

56

13

Bills for voucher

1892

3.18

57

1

Billing records, Mancos Extension

1892

3.18

57

2

Billing records

1892-01/
1893-03

3.18

57

3

Billing records

1892-04

3.18

57

4

Billing records

1892-05

3.18

57

5

Billing records

1892-06

3.18

57

6

Billing records

1892-07

3.18

57

7

Billing records

1892-08

3.18

57

8

Billing records

1892-09

3.18

57

9

Billing records

1892-12

3.18

57

10

Vouchers

1893-01

3.18

57

11

Vouchers

1893-02

3.18

57

12

Vouchers

1893-03

3.18

57

13

Vouchers

1893-04

3.18

57

14

Vouchers

1893-05

3.18

57

15

Vouchers

1893-06

3.18

57

16

Vouchers

1893-08/
1893-09

3.18

57

17

Bills for voucher

1893

3.18

57

18

Billing records

1893-01

3.18

57

19

Billing records

1893-02

3.18

57

20

Billing records

1893-03

3.18

57

21

Billing records

1893-04

3.18

57

22

Billing records

1893-05

3.18

57

23

Billing records

1893-06

3.18

57

24

Billing records

1893-07

3.18

57

25

Billing records

1893-08

3.18

57

26

Billing records

1893-09

3.18

57

27

Billing records

1893-10

3.18

57

28

Billing records

1893-11

3.18

57

29

General release: A. B. Brown voucher No. 208

1892-08

3.18

57

30

General release: A. F. Doze voucher No. 680

1892-10

3.18

57

31

General release: Joseph Petro voucher No. 1172

1892-12

3.18

57

32

General release: M. M. Williams voucher No. 1525

1893-02

3.18

57

33

General release: Nelson D. Porter voucher No. 1530

1893-02

3.18

57

34

General release: Mrs. Nellie Smither voucher No. 77

1893-12

3.18

57

35

Vouchers

1894

3.18

57

36

Bills for voucher

1897

3.18

58

1

Vouchers

1895

3.18

58

2

Vouchers

1896

3.18

58

3

Vouchers

1897

3.18

58

4

Vouchers

1898/1899

3.18

58

5

Vouchers for accidents

1906/1922

3.18

58

6

Vouchers for payments due

1911/1912

3.18

58

7

Public voucher for transportation of freight, Department of Agriculture

1913/1918

3.18

58

8

Bill for vouchers

1917-07/
1918-08

3.18

58

9

Vouchers

1922-04

3.18

58

10

Vouchers for payments due

1922

3.19

59

1

Claims

1892/1897

3.19

59

2

Claims

1897/1902

3.19

59

3

Claims

1899/1901

3.19

59

4

Claims

1902/1905

3.19

60

1

Claims

1905/1908

3.19

60

2

Claims

1908/1910

3.19

60

3

Claims

1910/1913

3.19

60

4

Personal injury record and stock claim book

Undated

3.19

60

5

Correspondence re: claims

1897/1908

3.19

60

6

Claims for ticket over charge

1915

3.19

60

7

Bills collectible

1893/1894

3.19

60

8

Bills collectible

1897/1898

3.19

60

9

Bills collectible

1906

3.19

60

10

Bills collectible

1913/1918

3.19

60

11

Rent collections on joint property, 2nd half

1906

3.19

60

12

Certificates of payment due

1892/1944

3.20

61

1

Freight rates

1884

3.20

61

2

Notices of special rate

1891/1892

3.20

61

3

Freight way bills, vol. 1

1892/1895

3.20

61

4

Freight way bills

1892

3.20

61

5

Freight way bills

1893

3.20

61

6

Freight way bills

1894

3.20

61

7

Freight way bills

1895

3.20

61

8

Black hawk mine requests for transportation of ore by Rio Grande Southern

1894

3.20

61

9

Railway express agency register of shipments receipts for bullion

1949

3.20

61

10

Notice of special rate (freight)

1891

3.20

61

11

Credits for car service on Silverton Railroad

1892/1893

3.20

61

12

Credits for car service on Denver and Rio Grande Railroads

1891/1893

3.20

61

13

Notices of coal shipments, Porter Fuel Company

1910/1913

3.20

61

14

Freight notices, Globe Express Company

1908/1909

3.20

61

15

Notices of freight on hand at Placerville (Colo.) Station

1908/1909

3.20

61

16

Express accounts Denver and Rio Grande Express

1891

3.20

61

17

Freight way bill the Silverton Railroad Company

1894

3.20

61

18

Freight way will Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company

1894/1895

3.20

62

1

Notice of freight on hand

1921

3.20

62

2

Local way bills May thru July

1923

3.20

62

3

Freight way bills less than car load

1923

3.20

62

4

Bills collectible from Denver and Rio Grande

1923

3.20

62

5

Livestock contracts

1923

3.20

62

6

Bill of lading

1927

3.20

62

7

Freight way bills

1941

3.20

62

8

Freight rates: beans and ore concentrate

1947

3.20

62

9

Way bill corrections

1949

3.21

62

10

Requisitions and invoices

1943/1944

3.22

62

11

Interline checks, vol. 1

1892/1930

3.22

62

12

Interline checks, vol. 2

1892/1930

3.22

62

13

Interline checks, vol. 3

1892/1930

3.22

63

1

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company checks

1892/1920

3.22

63

2

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company checks

1921/1929

3.22

63

3

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

4

Boston and Albany Railroad check

1920

3.22

63

5

Boston and Maine Railroad check

1929

3.22

63

6

Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway Company check

1929

3.22

63

7

Burlington and Missouri River Railroad checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

8

Canadian Pacific Railway Company check

1921

3.22

63

9

The Chicago and Alton Railroad Company check

1892/1929

3.22

63

10

Central of Georgia Railway check

1929

3.22

63

11

Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

12

Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company check

1929

3.22

63

13

Chicago and Erie Railroad Company checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

14

Chicago and grand Trunk Railway check

1893

3.22

63

15

Chicago Great Western Railroad checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

16

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

17

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company checks

1929

3.22

63

18

Chicago and North Western Railroad Company checks

1893/1929

3.22

63

19

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

20

Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha Railway Company checks

1892/1921

3.22

63

21

The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Railway Company check

1929

3.22

63

22

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company check

1929

3.22

63

23

The Colorado and Southern Railway Company checks

1929/1934

3.22

63

24

Colorado and Wyoming Railroad Company checks (interline freight)

1929

3.22

63

25

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad check to Rio Grande Southern

1892/1894

3.22

63

26

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company check to Rio Grande Southern

1920/1921

3.22

63

27

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company checks

1929

3.22

63

28

Denver, Boulder and Western Railroad check

1919

3.22

63

29

Erie Railroad Company checks

1921/1929

3.22

63

30

Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad Company check

1914

3.22

63

31

Payments to Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad through U.S. Railroad administration

1920/1929

3.22

63

32

Grand Trunk Railway checks

1892/1929

3.22

63

33

Great Northern Railroad checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

34

Great Western Railway check

1929

3.22

63

35

Illinois Central Railroad Company check (interline freight)

1920/1929

3.22

63

36

Kansas City Southern Railway check

1929

3.22

63

37

Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Company check

1920/1929

3.22

63

38

Louisville and Nashville Railroad check

1929

3.22

63

39

Michigan Central Railroad Company checks

1893/1929

3.22

63

40

The Midland Terminal Railway checks

1920/1921

3.22

63

41

Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

42

Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad check

1928

3.22

63

43

Missouri Pacific Railroad Company checks

1892/1929

3.22

63

44

Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway check

1929

3.22

63

45

Nevada Northern Railway checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

46

New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad Company checks

1920/1928

3.22

63

47

New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

48

New York Central Railroad Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

49

New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

50

New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad check

1929

3.22

63

51

Northern Pacific Railway Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

52

Oregon Shortline Railroad Company checks

1920/1921

3.22

63

53

Oregon- Washington Railroad and Navigation Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

54

Pacific Railway Company check

1920

3.22

63

55

Pere Marquette Railway check

1929

3.22

63

56

Pennsylvania Railroad check

1892/1929

3.22

63

57

Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

58

Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

59

Rio Grande Western Railway Company checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

60

Southern Pacific Company, Atlantic Steamship Lines checks

1920/1921

3.22

63

61

Southern Pacific Company, Pacific Lines checks

1892/1929

3.22

63

62

Southern Pacific Railroad and Steamship Line checks issued by United States Railroad Administration

1920

3.22

63

63

St. Louis- San Francisco Railway Company checks

1920/1929

3.22

63

64

Union Pacific Railroad checks

1892/1929

3.22

63

65

Uintah Railway Company checks

1921

3.22

63

66

United States Railroad Administration checks

1920

3.22

63

67

Wabash Railway checks

1892/1929

3.22

63

68

Western Pacific Railroad Company checks

1921/1929

3.22

63

68

Agent’s drafts

1927/1947

3.22

63

70

Checks cancelled and drawn on various banks

1892

3.22

63

71

Rio Grande Southern cancelled checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

72

Drawn on the First National Bank of Denver checks

1931

3.22

63

73

Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company interest checks

1892/1893

3.22

63

74

Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company payments to receiver

1934

3.23

 

 

{there is no Series 3.23}

 

3.24

64

1

Distribution of materials including: rails, bridges, and real estate

1891/1896

3.25

65

1

General store report

1892/1897

3.25

65

2

General store report

1896/1904

4.1

66

1

Vouchers for severance pay for March and May, 1892

1892-03/
1892-05

4.1

66

2

Mancos extension payroll records

1892

4.1

66

3

Payroll checks; mostly for unclaimed wages

1892-02/
1892-04

4.1

66

4

Payroll checks; mostly for unclaimed wagess

1892-05/
1892-07

4.1

66

5

Payroll check nos. 61533-63272

1914

4.1

66

6

Payroll check nos. 79902-80680

1918

4.1

66

7

Payroll check nos. 78415-78515 (back pay and unclaimed wages)

1918

4.1

66

8

Payroll check nos. 80270-80586

1918

4.1

66

9

United States Railroad Administration payroll checks

1919-03/
1919-04

4.1

66

10

Payroll checks

1926-06

4.2

66

11

Receipts for payment for services

1905

4.2

66

12

Receipts for payment of services June - August 1916

1916

4.3

66

13

Payroll identification records

1916

4.4

66

14

Pinkerton investigation

1891

4.5

66

15

Satisfaction of judgment, Dolores County Court, garnishee

1929

4.6

66

16

Overtime statements

1932

4.6

66

17

Receipts for railroad fund

1950
5.1 67

1

Plats of Rio Grande Southern Railroad and Turnouts (extras)

undated
5.1 67 2

Rio Grande Southern Railroad spurs to local mines, drawing (1 page)

1949
5.1 67 3

Topographic profile of Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad system; including Rio Grande Southern

1908, 1909,
and 1924
5.1 67 4

Request to use part of Rio Grande Southern right of way for county highway from La Plata County

1921
5.1 67 5

Request for power line on Rio Grande Southern right-of-way by Rico Argentine Mining Co.

1949
5.1 67 6

Railroad consolidations and unifications interstate commerce commission hearings

1931
5.1 67 7

Application to Colorado public utilities commission request for authority to discontinue services of trains 371 and 372 and stations at Rico and Placerville

1950-05
5.1 67 8

Abandonment of Rio Grande Southern service new articles

1946/1951
5.1 67 9

Order setting hearing for authority to abandon the railroad

1951-11-13
5.1 67 10

Order granting receiver's request to cease operations of Rio Grande Southern

1951-11-13
5.1 67 11

Report of the receiver and petition for authority to cease operations and for permission to abandon the railroad

1951
5.1 67 12 Abandonment of Rio Grande Southern 1951
5.1 68 1 Right of Way vol. I Undated
5.1 68 2

Construction profile Rio Grande Southern Construction Company vol. I

Undated
5.2 69 1

Rio Grande Southern Railroad stations and mile posts

Undated
5.2 69 2 Inventory and roster 1893
5.2 69 3

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad system (including Rio Grande Southern) official roster

1916, 1923
5.2 69 4 Inventory and roster 1923
5.2 69 5 Inventory 1931
5.2 69 6 Inventory 1939
5.3 69 7

Tariffs for Colorado intrastate railroad traffic, public utilities commission of State of Colorado (vol. 1)

1936
5.3 69 8

Interstate commerce commission, letter concerning Senate Joint Resolution 250 and House Joint Resolution 497 directing a study of transportation

1931
5.4 69 9

Rio Grande Southern Railroad motive power letters

1891/1892
5.5 69 10 Train orders 1892

5.5

70

1

Train orders

1936, 1941/1945, and 1951

5.6

70

2

Trip report book

1912/1916

5.6

70

3

Trip report book, form 723

1919/1920, 1951

5.6

70

4

Conductor Trip records and notes

1935/1937

5.6

70

5

Conductor trip records and notes

1935/1938

5.6

70

6

Conductor trip records and notes

1934/1938

5.6

71

1

Rio Grande Southern Railroad return of time vol. 1

1891/1893

5.6

71

2

Rio Grande Southern Railroad return of time vol. 1

1893/1896

5.6

72

1

Return of time, vol. 1

1896/1898

5.6

72

2

Return of time, vol. 1

1898/1901

5.6

73

1

Return of time, vol. 1

1901/1903

5.7

73

2

Tally sheets, vol. 1

1902/1903

5.8

74

1

Tie letters

1901/1906

5.9

74

2

Accident reports

1890/1891

5.9

74

3

Accident reports

1891

5.9

74

4

Accident and stock reports

1891/1892

5.9

74

5

Accident reports

1892/1904

5.9

75

1

Accident reports

1904/1907

5.9

75

2

Claim for destruction of mail car

1905

5.9

75

3

Peake accident, vol. I (includes photos)

1919-09-08

5.9

75

4

Peake accident, vol. II

1919-09-08

5.9

75

5

Evaluation of effects of Lightner Creek flood

1919

5.9

75

6

Train derailment, Jim Jarvis footage (3/4” master tape)

1921

5.9

75

7

Passenger accident reports, form 1215-7.10.3m

1922-10-30

5.9

75

8

Investigation regarding damage to caboose #0518 in Vance Yard

1925-05-13

5.9

75

9

Derailment accident

1928-07-02

5.10

76

1

Personal injury record and stock book

Undated

5.11

76

2

Correspondence regarding accidents in which livestock were injured

1912/1918

5.12

76

3

Master mechanics correspondence

1903/1904

5.12

76

4

Master mechanics correspondence

1912/1915

5.12

76

5

Master mechanics correspondence

1915/1916

5.13

77

1

Engine inspections

1944

5.13

77

2

Rio Grande Southern equipment repaired by Denver and Rio Grande

1918

5.13

77

3

Engine repairs

1923

5.13

77

4

Track repair correspondence

1902

5.13

77

5

Equipment repairs

1921/1923

5.14

77

6

Foreign car mileage

1891/10/11

5.14

77

7

Foreign car mileage billing record

1891

5.14

77

8

Car mileage invoices

1891/1892

5.14

77

9

Foreign roads

1893/1894

5.14

77

10

Records of outgoing cars

1924/1925,
and 1928

5.15

 

 

{there is no Series 5.15}

 

5.16

78

1

Newspaper articles about the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

1955, 1957,
and 1960

5.16

78

2

Notebook of news articles regarding railroad private cars (including the Denver and Rio Grande West Nomad car)

1940/1960

5.17

79

1

Telluride station record

1927-07/ 1927/08

5.17

79

2

Train register, Vance Junction

1945-10-10/ 1946-11-10

5.18     {there is no Series 5.18}  
5.19     {there is no Series 5.19}  

5.20

80

1

Denver and Rio Grande locomotives drawings

1914

5.20

80

2

Blueprint (copies) of cabooses 0513-0567

Undated

5.20

80

3

Blueprints for equipment

Undated

5.20

And oversize maps and blueprints in map case drawers 1.10 and 2.33 - 2.34.

 

Doing your own research: This description of a portion of the collections at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies is provided to inform interested parties about the nature and depth of the repository's collections.  It cannot serve as a substitute for a visit to the repository for those with substantial research interests in the collections.

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.


 

Page last modified: August 19, 2009