The Engine House at Alpine Tunnel

All drone shots used by the gracious permission of Dave Moore:   / 1505602592810214  

Correction: destroyed by fire in 1905, not 1906
When the Denver, South Park & Pacific built it’s daring route through Alpine Tunnel at over 11,000 feet, it knew its locomotives would need servicing facilities after the tremendous climb to reach the pass. A stone engine house was built in 1881. Inside was a water tank, turntable, inspection pit, and coaling platform. The structure was destroyed in a fire in 1905 and never replaced. Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, particularly through The Passport in Time program, and the leadership of Ray Rossman of the National Forest Service, the remains of the engine house have been protected and stabilized. Many others, such as Gene Candelaria, a stone mason, who did stabilization work on some of the walls in 2010, have also put their hands into this work. New approach tracks, a restored tool shed, and a viewing platform have also been added.




All color photos: Kurt Maechner photos, July 2018, except drone photo by Dave Moore.


Historical Photo Credits:
Photo 1: Rev. J. C. Gullette photo, Museum of New Mexico Collection. From The South Park Line by Mallory Hope Ferrell, 2003.
Photo 2: Ed and Nancy Bathke Collection from: Tom and Denise Klinger's South Park's Gunnison Division Memories & Then Some, 2012
Photo 3 and 4 (same photo): Dr. C. H. Scott photo. John Manley Collection. from: Tom and Denise Klinger's South Park's Gunnison Division Memories & Then Some, 2012
Photo 5 and 6 (same photo): Dr. C. H. Scott glass negative. John Manley Collection. from: Tom and Denise Klinger's South Park's Gunnison Division Memories & Then Some, 2012
Photo 7: D. E. Rogers photo. From The Mineral Belt, Vol. 2 – Old South Park – Across the Great Divide by David S. Digerness, 1978.
Photo 8: Charlie Webb and Dow Helmers Photography. From The South Park Line by Mallory Hope Ferrell, 2003.
Photo 8 and 9: Repeat of photo 1
Photo 10: Dr. C. H. Scott photo. John Manley Collection. from: Tom and Denise Klinger's South Park's Gunnison Division Memories & Then Some, 2012
Photo 11: John Ehernberger Collection. from: Tom and Denise Klinger's South Park's Gunnison Division Memories & Then Some, 2012
Photo 12: Repeat of photo 1
Photo 13: Repeat of photo 7
Photo 14: repeat of photo 5
Photo 15: repeat of photo 2
Photo 16: repeat of photo 8