Teri Metallo, Central City. On the snowy evening of October 23 in Central City, a community information meeting was held by the Central City Railway and Mining Museum in The Little Kingdom Room of The Teller House to propose the revival of the narrow gauge railroad in Central City. The historic Colorado and Southern Railroad’s 1896 Baldwin Locomotive #71, the tender and baggage car that presently sit at the entrance to the Grand Z Casino and Hotel parking garage, would be moved, restored and eventually put back into service as a tourist railroad.  

The Grand Z was sold in September, along with all “Z” properties to Maverick Gaming of Nevada, it is now time for the City of Central to decide what to do with the train.

Cort Hammond and John Knapff were brought together by family, hockey and a love of trains. The third partner of the group, Bob Bassett, was unable to attend the meeting that night. The three men are the team that are proposing the restoration of the train, a railroad and mining museum and the excavation of the old Central City Depot that sits under the mine tailings above the Big T lot.

The group has leased the Spring Street Depot and would build a temporary barn that would house the train during restoration.

The late Floyd Cochran and his grandson Cort Hammond were the engineer team that restored and ran Old 71 back in the late 1980’s from the Spring Street Depot when it ran as a tourist attraction into the early 90’s. Floyd was a steam engineer that had traveled the United States with his steam smarts, he worked on everything from the steam wheat thrashers of Kansas to the steam locomotives that needed him as he traveled. Cochran’s grandson Cort, fondly remembers working at his grandfather’s knee growing up. 

After Cochran and Hammond closed the tourist train operation in 1990, Old 71 has not run since. The train was moved around Central City a few times, from the Spring Street depot to Academy Hill and then down to the present casino location. A train war erupted briefly in the 90’s when an offer was made that would have taken the locomotive to Black Hawk and the Colorado Central Station Casino for display. Central City stood tall in its ownership and the train stayed and went on display in its current location.

Architect John Knapff of Boulder is excited about the project and has extensive experience in working to preserve history throughout the U.S. He was a key player in the preservation and revival of the Cumbres and Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

Candice Rosenberger of Denver rounded out the night’s team and was a welcome hostess that assisted with the presentation, she is a volunteer helping Hammond, Knapff and Bassett with the project.

A good number of local residents showed up shaking off snow and warmed up while studying the presentation boards the group had set up along the far wall while enjoying refreshments provided for the occasion. The JKQ Barbecue staff graciously opened the Teller House and their kitchen to host the event and a full menu was available for those that needed a meal.

Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey, Councilman Jack Hidahl and City Manager Ray Rears were in attendance in the audience.

Very informative information and photographs were on display for the attendees on the presentation boards, including start-up costs for the train, proposal details, past and projected ridership income, historic preservation, and also modern benefits with a new museum that could bring the community together. 

After giving everyone a chance to read the material provided and settle in, the group talked about the project and held a question and answer session. 

First up was John Knapff who spoke of the many benefits a tourist railroad would bring to the city and how it could become a community project. “We want to build a relationship of trust with the city and the community,” Knapff explained. 

Hands on learning, historical education and events for students in the local and metro areas were brought up as additional benefits for young people who have limited activity choices.

A running train and museum would attract more of the growing statewide tourists into the city and in turn would help the Gilpin History Museum & Tours, The Opera House, The Gilpin Arts Gallery bring in more visitors explained Knapff. Package tours connecting the train and tours provided by the Gilpin Historical Society was just one of the mutual business benefits mentioned.

Most of the concern shown from the audience was about noise for city residents and fire danger. Cort Hammond took his turn and addressed those questions with the group’s plan to have a fire crew that would work side by side with local fire departments on emergency plans. Hammond explained that initially, the train would only run on 1800’ of track which will be on top of barren mine tailings where there is no vegetation close by and fire threats would be minimal.

Hammond and the team are offering three steam whistle options that would be tested for noise prior to the opening run so that residents would vote for the most favorable.

The proposal is for Central City to consider donating the train to the Gilpin Historical Society so that it will be eligible for grant moneys it cannot get in the city’s possession and it could then be given state historical preservation consideration. The city would then donate an incentive amount for the museum project of a $175,000 grant and $325,000 in restoration funds according to the proposal. The projected cost of restoration for the train is $500,000. Ideas for funding and accepting donations were also discussed. 

The meeting was a good introduction to the proposal and a start to considering the future for the train and Central City.

The crowd stayed to mingle and chat after the group answered questions.

Serious railfans, historians and those with a connection to Old 71 have never stopped dreaming of hearing her steaming again.

Central City residents and anyone with interest in the train are welcomed and encouraged to attend the November 19 meeting of Central City when the train issue will come up again at the budget meeting.

(Originally published in the November 7, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)