The Depot
The South Park! To the average Coloradan this term signifies
one--perhaps the most beautiful--of a number of great, high,
mountain valleys, surrounded by ranges of even higher peaks, which
are scattered throughout the central Rocky Mountains. But to the
historian or railfan it calls to mind the most picturesque of the
pioneer narrow gauge railroads in Colorado, a state once saturated
with picturesque narrow gauge railroads. It was a railroad known, as
the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad. To most historians it
was simply the South Park.
To those interested in the broader picture of history, the South
Park Railroad was a mere footnote to Colorado railroad history. It
was just a streak of rust, from one end to the other, during much of
its existence. It was poorly surveyed, poorly located, poorly
engineered, poorly financed and in financial trouble during most of
its history. Perhaps because of its obsolescence during much of its
history, the spectacular scenery visible from virtually every inch
of the line's trackage and its underdog status, it has won an
enduring and perhaps excessively prominent place in the history of
railroading1.
The Como rail complex, located in the alpine valley known as
South Park, is what is left of the legendary carrier. This place has
become the holy of holies to narrow gauge railfans. To the railfan,
these buildings are as revered as an ancient European cathedral. In
addition to a few of the original town structures, there remains
today three railroad structures: the hotel, built in 1896 after the
original Pacific Hotel burned down; the wooden depot, which is ready
to fall down; and the 1881 stone roundhouse, which has been
preserved.
The South Park was founded in 1872. It reached the place now
known as Como, located about 90 miles from its origin in Denver and
at 9796 feet elevation, in 1879. The Pacific Hotel opened in 1881
and the stone roundhouse was completed in the same year.
Pacific Hotel and Depot, Como, Colorado 1886
When exactly the depot was built is unknown. It was certainly
added to and modified over the years. It was there in 1886 as shown
in the above photograph of the Pacific Hotel. The hotel burned on 9
November 1896 and was rapidly replaced by the currently existing
building. Surprisingly the neighboring wooden depot was saved. The
last scheduled passenger train left Como, Colorado on 10 April 1937
as shown below.
Last scheduled passenger train from Como, Colorado at depot 10 April
1937
The last train to leave Como was a work train 2 September 1938 as
the track was pulled up behind it. Como lapsed into obscurity,
becoming almost a ghost town.
1Paraphrased from: Chappell, G,
Richardson, RW, Hauck, CW, The South Park Line: a Concise History,
Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, Colorado 1974
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