Podcast Episode 82 - Into the Blizzard of 1913 on a Short Line Train

In December 1913, the worst blizzard in the history of the Pikes Peak area came raging in. Into the maelstrom headed Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District train number 4. It got about half-way home…

Colorado Midland Rotary Snow Plow B clears the tracks above Cripple Creek. CM engine 46 in the picture and Short Line engine 2 out of the picture behind it act as helper engines. By the time this picture was taken, CM engine 204 had derailed and was no longer part of the effort.

People stand on snow drifts in front of Cripple Creek’s National Hotel, City Hall, and the fire station following the “Big Blizzard” of 1913. Throughout the area, snow piled up 10 to 20 feet high.

References:

• Dailey, C. (1913, December 4). Snow Storm Closes Denver Public Schools. The Aspen Democrat-Times. 1.

• Knight, J. M. (1913, December 5). Snowstorm is General. The Herald Democrat. 5 

• Shaffer, J. C. (1913, December 6). Storm Still Raging; Many Lost in State. The Rocky Mountain News. 2.

• Knight, J. M. (1913, December 6). Coal Famine in Denver. The Herald Democrat. 1.

• Knight, J. M. (1913, December 7). Near Famine at Capital. The Herald Democrat. 1.

• Cafky, M. (1965). Colorado Midland. The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club.

• Wilkins, T. E. (1983). Short Line to Cripple Creek. The Colorado Railroad Museum.