Podcast Episode 70 - The Challenging and Sometimes Deadly Train Route into Breckenridge
The High Line was a route of the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad that split from the main line in Como, climbed to Boreas Pass at over 11,000 feet, and descended its windy way into Breckenridge before continuing on to Leadville. The route was subject to winter weather and could be deadly with the steep elevation changes and sharp curves.
Train wreck near Boreas Pass. From the Park County Local History Digital Archive. Click photo to go to the source page.
Rotary train wreck near Boreas Pass. From the Park County Local History Digital Archive. Click photo to go to the source page.
References:
Climax Molybdenum Company and the Federal Highway Administration. (n. d.). Life on the Highline. Interpretive sign on Colorado Highway 91 near Climax, CO.
Encyclopedia Staff. (2015, November 04). Breckenridge Historic District. Colorado Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/breckenridge-historic-district
Author Unknown. (n. d.). Breckenridge, Colorado. Western Mining History. Retrieved from https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/breckenridge/
Breck Editorial (n. d.) Breckenridge Historic Timeline. Welcome to Breckenridge. Retrieved from https://gobreck.com/experience-breckenridge/breckenridge-historic-timeline
Author Unknown. (2023). Breckenridge History. AllTrips. Retrieved from https://www.allsummitcounty.com/breckenridge_colorado/history.php
Klinger, T. and D. (2007). C&S Platte Canyon Memories & Then Some. Tom Klinger.
Author Unknown. (2016, January 8). Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad (1873-1889) Denver, Leadville & Gunnison Railway (1889-1899). UtahRails.net. Retrieved from https://utahrails.net/up/denver-south-park.php
Pike National Forest, Park County, Colorado Historical Society. (n. d.). The Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad History. Brochure. USDA.
Author Unknown. (1913, March 28). HIGH WINDS DRIFT SNOW: Traffic Over Boreas Pass Suspended for Over Forty-Eight Hours. The Summit County Journal & Breckenridge Bulletin. 1.
Author Unknown. (1914, January 2). Additional Local. The Summit County Journal & Breckenridge Bulletin. 8.
Author Unknown. (1913, March 28). SHUT OUT FROM WORLD FOR SEVEN DAYS. No Passenger or Freight Train Since Last Saturday. BOREAS PASS ORDERED CLOSED. The Blue Valley Times. 1.
Author Unknown. (1899, September 9). CAUGHT IN WRECK OF A RUNAWAY TRAIN. The Rocky Mountain News. 5.
Author Unknown. (1909, March 22). Sad Havoc of a Runaway Train. Durango Semi-Weekly Herald. 1.