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Show v if' r i ' - 1 - ' ! . V - 1 Drakeman Shack Froman directs engineer who is backing up to load cattle 4 (S Cous a smaller road toward the junk heap and the smelting furnace. Progress or not, these vanishing shortline railroads represent the end of a colorful era in the nation's history. For many were built on shoe strings by men of daring when daring was as vital to life as a shooting iron. One of the most recent shortlines to be scheduled for limbo was the Silverton branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad which ran between Silverton, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. Like other short-harailroads, it was put on the financial rocks by steadily rpHE steady if - Mllll 5-- - progress- - of American railroading has pushed many ul dwindling traffic. The Silverton line carried practically no passengers over its scenic route through th6 Rockies since 1940. And freight volume fell so low the railroad reported a loss of over $100,000 a year. Built in 1880, the narrow-gaug- e railroad maintained regular service through the steep and snowy niountain passes during the days when gold and silver flowed freely out of the earth. But now the flow has been reduced to a trickle. Today, it is only one of many shortlines slowly losing ground. But the shortlines are stubborn. At a meeting of railroad men, recently, the president of one big road boasted: "My railroad. is 10,000 miles long and yours is only 10." The shortline man was unruffled. "True," he replied, "your line IS longer than mine. But don't forget, mine is just as wide!" However, the Denver and Rio Grande couldn't even make that claim. Its tracks were laid just three feet apart 20 inches narrower than the big roads. .v 1 f Denver end Rio Grands engine roars through Rocky Mountain passes toward Chama, ILtX .. V t i V1' - f ... r i y.. i - ff- ? - "r - jf Young Colorado cowhand looks on as tho train from Silverton, Colo., rolls through short-tin- o pasture. A startled colt looks up from grazing as tho, little eng t no steams past. Lino may soon discentinuo service. H ! ; Youthful passenger is unimpressed by savage mountain scenery. Train has been used in Hollywood "westerns." D2Cr.ri2 27, 1953 FAT.ilY IVETXLY tZ&Q&UUZ |