Contents

Colorado Springs Has Light Rail Right-of-Way Open and Ready to Build
By Robert Loevy

Colorado Springs already has something most other cities would give anything to get - a light rail right-of-way that is in place and needs only the addition of track and wires.

This right-of-way runs from Rustic Hills to downtown Colorado Springs and, for half that distance, already has usable track in place.  The other half of the route would parallel the mainline of the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroads.

The downtown terminal for such a light rail line would be adjacent to the Antlers Adams Mark Hotel, right in the center of things in the heart of Colorado Springs.

The Rustic Hills terminal would be near the corner of Constitution Avenue and Murray Boulevard.  There even is room at that location for a loop to turn the light rail vehicles and have a major transit station.

Let's park our automobile at the Rustic Hills transit station and take an imaginary ride downtown on this proposed light rail line.  Or perhaps it will be a historic trolley route:

* Depart Rustic Hills heading west.  We'll be running along the old Rock Island Railroad tracks, paralleling Constitution Avenue.  We'll cross Academy Boulevard, Circle Drive, and Paseo Road as we roll along a right-of-way broad enough to include both trolley tracks and a biker-hiker trail.

* Proceed past Horace Mann Junior High School (on the south side of the school) to Templeton Gap.  Then the tracks lower as we

Continued on page 3

A Message From the President
by David Lippincott

There are several very significant developments in the works that trolley supporters need to be aware of.  They represent, in my opinion, significant steps forward towards system construction.

We have been assured that, in May, we will receive grants totaling over $300,000 from the Summit Foundation.

The Summit Foundation is in the process of moving its assets and operations to Colorado Springs.  Their gifts will allow us to purchase, from the Pueblo owners, the 1930s era Belgian car and trailer, which we currently have under contract.

The Summit Foundation grants also will enable us to continue the design/engineering work on the West Colorado line, which is currently under way.

For the past several months, we have been soliciting matching funds from our supporters to enable us to complete the West Side design work to the satisfaction of City  Utility officials.  Of course, in the end, the design and engineering will have to be approved by City Council.

We are short of our design funds goal by some $30,000, but we expect to raise those funds by the time they are needed.

The Foundation Board, at its April meeting, directed the Trolley Foundation to pursue design and engineering work on a downtown loop.  This work will proceed concurrently with the West Side plans.  The loop envisioned will run south of Colorado Avenue on Cascade or Sawatch to Costilla Street.  The track will then go east to Tejon Street and then south to Las Animas Street.  Trolleys will then run east on Las Animas to the Lowell Neighborhood redevelopment project.  The loop will be completed by going north on Weber Street to Colorado and then west to the starting point on Cascade Avenue.

There were several compelling reasons for raising the priority of the downtown loop. 

(1) The Highway Department does not plan to rebuild the I-25 overpass above Colorado Avenue for several more years.  While the highway people are cooperating with us in other ways, they would have major difficulties with an active electrified trolley line in Colorado Avenue, while reconstruction of the overpass is taking place.  The high voltage trolley wire could present major safety problems for the highway workers.   

2. Development projects south of Colorado Avenue in the downtown area are moving ahead quickly.  We have been asked to be a part of several of these downtown renewal efforts.
   
3. These downtown projects include the Lowell Neighborhood, the redevelopment of the original trolley car barn on south Tejon Street, the proposed Convention Center, and the new downtown Sky Sox stadium.  Another possibility for downtown is a new transit terminal.  Not to plan now for inclusion in these exciting developments might mean we would be excluded in the future. 
   

Dave Lippincott
President, PPHSRF

Continued from page 1

What an asset it is to the citizens of Colorado Springs to have such a trolley or light rail right-of-way in place.  Right-of-way acquisition and development is one of the biggest expenses of building a new trolley or light rail line.  Here in Colorado Springs, the right-of-way is clear, open, and ready for the addition of tracks and trolley wires.

There is considerable support in Colorado Springs to turn the old Rock Island tracks along Constitution Avenue into a crosstown super highway.  Other groups want it turned into a lineal park or expanded as a biker-hiker trail.

There is plenty of room in the Constitution Avenue corridor for both a trolley line and a biker-hiker trail.  Political experts suggest that, if the light rail/trolley supporters will join hands with the biker-hiker trail people, the two groups might be able to prevent the crosstown super highway being built down Constitution Avenue.     

zoom under the Nevada Avenue bridge.  Next we glide across the Beacon Street grade crossing and bridge over Monument Creek on the old Rock Island girder bridge.

* As we roll by the Trolley Barn, we will curve from a westerly direction to a southerly direction, heading directly toward downtown Colorado Springs and paralleling the UP-BNSF railroad tracks.  Luckily for Colorado Springs, the land adjoining the railroad tracks belongs to the City of Colorado Springs and thus is readily available for use as a light rail transit line.

* We will highball over a new trolley bridge that will have to be built at Fontanero Street.  At Uintah Street, however, our light rail vehicle can use the third track on the existing railroad bridge.  That track, originally the Rock Island main line, is now only used infrequently as a railroad storage siding, mainly for when the Circus Train is in town.  It could easily be converted to trolley and transit use.

* Now we're clanging along past Monument Valley Park from Mesa Road to Bijou Street.

* A second new trolley bridge would have to be built over Monument Creek, right next to the existing two-track railroad bridge.  But once our trolley car or light rail vehicle crosses that bridge, we're in downtown Colorado Springs and just two blocks from the Antlers Hotel.
As previously noted, this Rustic Hills light rail route already belongs to the city from Rustic Hills to Templeton Gap.  From Templeton Gap to the Trolley Barn, the tracks belong to the Union Pacific Railroad and are used for switching service to local industries on North Nevada Avenue.  An arrangement would need to be made with the Union Pacific to put light rail or trolley on that part of the line.

From the Trolley Barn to downtown, the new trolley line would use City of Colorado Springs property adjacent to the railroad tracks.

And, of course, once it reached the Antlers Hotel, our new Rustic Hills trolley line could connect to the Trolley Foundation's proposed line out Colorado Avenue to Colorado City and Manitou Springs.

Rector Ramblins
by Phil and Carolyn Rector

These past five months have allowed us to experience some interesting rail adventures.

The sound of the Diesel locomotive horn of the South Central Florida Railroad locomotive drifts over Lake Grassy to our house about sunrise
every day except Sunday as the train heads south with a string of cars bound for the sugar cane fields near Clewiston. This former Atlantic Coast

Continued on page 7

Page 3

The Saga of Trolley Car No. 109 or How No. 30 Returned to Greeley
By Howard Noble

Trolley car #109 was built in 1921 by the American Car Co., St. Louis, for service on the Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway. This is a "'Birney Safety Car", one-man operated, and like the Greeley trolleys, was painted green on the exterior with natural cherry woodwork on the interior. The Colorado Springs line folded in 1932 and #109 was sold to the Pueblo City Railway Co. When the P.C.R. Co. switched to buses in 1948, #109 was purchased for use as a tea room on Lookout Mountain, near Golden, Colorado.

Joe Garrett, who has made a mission of collecting and restoring Colorado trolley cars, purchased #109, moved it to Aurora, and partly restored it during the past few years.

Greeley's first experience with the trolley car began in 1909 with the Greeley and Denver Railroad Co. Three and one half miles of track were laid and four cars were bought second-hand from Spokane, Washington. The line ran from the car barn located at 3rd St. and 14th Ave, down 3rd St. to 12th Ave., along 12th Ave, cutting over to 7th Ave. at 19th St. (past the Colorado State Normal School), and proceeded on 7th Ave. to llth St., then one block over to 8th Ave., and at 8th Ave. and 7th St., the line cut east past the Camfield Hotel, City Hall, the library, Lincoln Park, and back to 12th Ave. for the return to the car barns. The streetcar line was well received and viewed as a positive asset by the downtown businesses. In 1915, new equipment and two new Birney Safety Cars, No.29 and No.30, were purchased. No. 30 fast became the "hoodoo" car of the line, constantly being involved in some accident or misadventure.

From the files of The Greeley Tribune, various headlines arrest one's attention:
"Auto Wrecked in Vain Attack on Streetcar", or  "Two Mules send Streetcar to Shop", and "No. 30 Wins Argument with Milk Wagon", in addition to, "Carelessly Driven Car Attempts to Knock No. 30 off Track Second Time in 8 Days".

Finally, the increased popularity of the automobile, the non-extension of routes, plus a devastating fire in 1917 that destroyed the car barn and three cars, along with the deterioration of the equipment, all contributed to the termination of the trolley service.

On December 26, 1922, the Greeley Tribune reported:  "Old Faithful (No.30) broke down and was replaced by a Stanley Steamer."
Recently the Greeley Municipal Museum acquired through donation, a Denver Tramway streetcar, #846. Julia Cook of Gill, the donor, had purchased the car in 1951 and moved it to her farm in Gill. Before #846 was moved to Centennial Village, Mr. Joe

Garrett proposed a trade---#846 for his #109, since #109 (the Birney Safety Car) would be more representative and authentic of the kind of trolley cars that had run in Greeley. Thus, #109 now has a new home in Centennial Village and will shortly
be re-numbered and relettered for the "hoodoo" car, #30 of the D.G.R.R. Co. , and #846 has returned to Denver.

For the many visitors who will be returning to Centennial Village next spring, the trolley car will be anew and unique focal point, as well as a visual reminder of the kind of transportation that was available in Greeley at the turn of the century.

Displayed in an authentic village setting, the trolley will have a timeless appeal to people of all ages and interests.

Future Events
Calendar

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events!

• Saturday, June 2, 2001
  

Page 4

Restoration of Birney Car No. 22
Summary of 2000
By Gary Harrison

The Birney Safety car restoration continues to progress.  Disassembling of the car has ended, and real progress is being made in the car's reassembly. The most obvious physical changes to the car are the bodywork and the truck [wheels].

Vince Morris has been the leader on reassembling the truck.  The truck consists of the pair of wheels, braking and suspension system, and the electrical motors.  Most of the original frame components needed to be replaced due to age and wear.  These components include new Grade 8 bolts; custom fabricated metal castings and very specialized machining.  Uhrich Locomotive works, in Strasburg, CO, fabricated most of the specialized machining and casting.   The brake rigging system, leaf springs, brass bearings, and truck frame are now completed.  As soon as the temperature in the barn gets above freezing, we expect to mount the two traction motors to the truck assembly.  This will include the gear drive enclosures and motor bearing mounts.  Uhrich Locomotive Works, due to their unique design, also fabricated many of these materials.

The car body also is progressing well.  That is due to the efforts of our Master woodworker, Jeff Smith.  The car ends have been reframed with new hardwood posts and beams.  The original wood slat roof has been removed to allow access to the roof rib sections.  Most of the ribs are in good condition and will only require refinishing.  Jeff has been successful with steaming new wood slats that will span across the curved rib to form the new curved roof.

The car body steel frame has been reassembled, including new and refurbished steel floor channels and angles.  Some of the air system components have been mounted to the frame, including the two new air storage tanks and original brake cylinder and door operators.

The installation of the compressed air system is the

next major phase of restoration. The air system not only provides the means for braking the car, but it also operates the doors and sanders.  Neal McElrath has rebuilt the air compressor by using components from two original Birney compressors.  The two-piston compressor is run by a separate 600-volt motor that is being cleaned up and rewired.  The compressor will then be mounted on the car frame, so that cutting and hanging of the air piping can commence.  This work is expected to continue through the spring.  With the air compressor in place, the truck assembly can be placed under the car again.

The restoration project continues to be a team effort by a variety of volunteers. In addition to the group mentioned above, we have had considerable help from Robert Barnsbee, Jim Shaw, Grant Harrison, and Greg Roberts.  Further technical assistance has been offered by Howard Noble, Dave Lippincott, and Don Gage.

Local Union No.113 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has continued their generous funding of the restoration project.

We foresee the Birney operating under its own power in the near future.

Page 5

From the Membership
Chairman
by G. Gene Rothwell

Our paid membership, to date, in the Foundation is at about 260, which includes both individuals and Corporate membership. We continue to discuss how we can effectively get the word out to the community about what we are doing and what we need in terms of volunteer workers and financial income. 

One of the more exciting things in the restoration shop is the progress on the Birney single truck trolley car, #135. That car is really coming together and it won't be too long before we might begin to use it as a visible public display to enhance our fund raising abilities. 

Enjoy the articles nearby in this issue of the Singing Wire and make a visit to the 1888 Rock Island Roundhouse where you will see lots of activities in progress. We all know our mission is taking a long time to accomplish, but we are making progress. Talk us up, keep the faith and become a member.

our first year of married life, so we had multiple reasons to be happy there, since then we have gone on to be married almost fifty years (Nov. 1, 1950--Nov. 1, 2000).  So, just maybe that first year proved to be a good beginning of a good future, as well as Lizzie's future is now.  We have reminisced about it quite frequently.  We had our own title for Lizzie, "A Streetcar Named Desire."

We have shared our history about Lizzie with the rest of our family, six children, thirteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren many times.

We are so glad Lizzie is being put into service for others to enjoy as much as we enjoyed our time with her.

Lizzie being put to use during the war times for a lot of people was very much needed in their time away from home and family.  We do appreciate the services of Lizzie, so we will say, Thanks.

Hensel and Deloris Morris
67 Red Top Circle
Emerson, GA  30137

Restored historic electric streetcar

A Tribute to Lizzie
Contributed by Howard Noble

Editor’s Note: This letter was received in late 2000 by Howard Noble. “Lizzie” was the name given to Car No. 48, a 1901 Brill car which ran in Colorado Springs until 1932. It was then converted to living quarters until July 2000, when the Trolley Foundation acquired it and began restoration.

We are very happy to say Lizzie was very much a part of our lives in the year of 1950. She was our home while we were in the military and also while we were waiting the birth of our first child.  It was

Page 6

Continued from page 3

The rest of this article has narrower subjects. While in Peru in March, we rode (with Dave and Nancy Lippincott) the train from Cuzco to Machupicchu, the only way to get to the Inca ruins. Our 2 car train
negotiated 4 switchbacks on the 68 mile route, and was an enjoyable way to view the scenery of the Andes Mountains. The railcars, which are comfortable, are to be replaced soon by the new owner, a cruise line. Some 300,000 visitors to Machupichu travel this rail route each year.

To wind up our winter here in the South, we traveled through South Carolina and searched for the last remains of the Argent Lumber Company narrow gauge rail operations which extended into the pine forests along the Savannah River. In the early 50's I photographed this line, which used cabbage stacked Porter steam locomotives, fueled by pine logs from the surrounding forests. Untrimmed pine logs served as ties and link and pins were all that coupled the cars together. The operations quit about 1960, but we found #7 enshrined under cover in a park in Hardeeville,
S.C.

Line branch crosses US 27 on a concrete girder bridge painted with "Lake Placid * Florida's Lake Country" A fitting description. Of course, we've chased the train to get pictures.

The Tampa & Ybor City Street Railway is under construction with operation scheduled for February 2002. The T&YCSR, a non-profit, was founded in
1984, with the same vision as ours. After years of nonsupport by the city, the tide dramatically turned in 1994, and with city funding, the dream is about to be realized. The initial system will be 2.3 miles
single tracked with six passing sidings, and will be operated under the guidance of the Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority. It sounds like they have their act together. A model for us, perhaps? To obtain an update and pictures, log on to their website or contact Steve McGee at <sjmcgee@gte.net>.

Another trolley update which I picked up while in Tucson in February is that they have started construction on the completion of the wye near the
carbarn.

Page 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© May 2001 Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation
P.O. Box 544
Colorado Springs, CO 80901-0544

Home        Calendar          Contact Us          Links            Location        Mission             Membership