Crested Butte

Crested Butte

CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO
*** National Historic District ***
Crested Butte Crested Butte Heritage Museum Crested Butte HO Layout Crested Butte Walking Tour


1881 D&RGW Depot Credit: HalZ May08	1881 D&RGW Depot Credit: HalZ May08	1881 D&RGW Depot Credit: HalZ May08	1881 D&RGW Depot Credit: GaryM Aug03	2-Story Outhouse Credit: GaryM Aug03

2-Story Outhouse Credit: GaryM Aug03	1883 Schoolhouse Credit: GaryM Aug03

In 1974, the entire town of Crested Butte (founded in JUly, 1880) was designated a National Historic Site. In 1881, the narrow gauge rails of the Denver & Rio Grande arrived. Crested Butte was the D&RGW point famous for its access to rich sources of anthracite in the region. The anthracite was fired in the infamous coke ovens to produce coke, which was cooled and originally loaded into box cars by hand. Anthracite originated from the many mines in the area, and produces a much harder and better burning coal. The coke ovens produced a thick haze of black smoke routinely filling the air at Crested Butte. The town also served as a supply center for the outlying mining camps until the Silver Panic in 1893. After that, coal from the mines sustained the town for decades.

STATION Elev. (ft)	STATION No.	Miles from Denver	Telegraph Calls	DIVISION	DISTRICT or BRANCH	Mainline Prototype/ Modeled	Sidings Prototype/ Modeled

Crested Butte El 8878 ft	316	316.29	BE	THIRD	Crested Butte Branch	TBD/ NG: 16'	TBD/ NG: 36'

FACILITIES:

Depot
Water Tank: 50,000 gallon
Engine House: 2 NG stalls
Wye:10' 16' degree of curve, NG, 3,260 ft stem
Stockyard: 4 NG Stock, 2 NG Sheep
Scales: 50', 100 ton capacity
Telegraphone

MODELING:

The legs of the wye were used arbitrarily to as much of the original trackplan to the space dictated by the layout.
The coke ovens were along the correct part of the wye and were wrapped around the town.
Structures used: Wild West Scale Models Miner's Supply, Bakery, Earl Lee's Store, Harvey's Hardware; Woodland Scenics' Gun & Tackle Shop; Scratchbuilt Tavern, cabins;
Scratch: CF&I Big Mine. The new loading tipple is shown in the 4th photo below, based on photographs, which replaces the original mock-up in the other photos below.
Depot: to be scratchbuilt.
Crystal River Products' Engine House, Bunk Houses, Section House; Durango Press D&RGW 50,000 gal Water Tank.

SOURCES:

Official Roster No.11 of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad System and the Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company, 1923, Colorado Railroad Museum.

Return to Scenic Line Modeler's Home Return to Layout Plan

This page last modified 10 November 2019.