South Park City Train Depot
Originally the Buffalo
Springs School, c. 1900, the depot contains memorabilia of the
three railroads which serviced South Park: the Denver, South
Park and Pacific; the Colorado and Southern; and the Colorado
Midland. There are also an authentic Water Tower and a Narrow
Gauge Train.
To further pique your
interest on these exhibits we have included the story behind
the acquisition of South Park City's steam engine.
In 1963, South Park
City had been opened for four season and continued to grow ,
but one major piece of history was missing: a narrow gauge steam
engine. Though the museum now had 500 feet of rail, and four
authentic railroad cars, it seemed all the old steam engines
had at one time or another been sold for scrap or were already
on display at other locations. The search covered every part
of the United States and as far away as Yucatan, Mexica and Alaska.
Finally in Jully of
1966, a 45,000-lb. narrow gauge steam engine was obtained from
the United Fruit Company of Bananera, Guatemala! The engine had
been built in 1914 and was known as a Porter Mogul #6, the
same type of engine that was used on the Denver and South Park
Line. The engine was purchased for only $600... the freight
bill for shipping it to South Park, however, came to $5,000.00!
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