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Durango & Silverton founder Charles E. Bradshaw Jr. dies
Sorry, meant to say thank you to Mr. Bradshaw and family. Pray he is heaven so I may know him and all the other railroad greats, full size and modelers, when I go home. Thanks to Trains for the magazine and this website.
Wife and I have ridden the D&S numerous times in all seasons. Spring with the smell of new life with rushing streams and the river. Summer with thunderstorms that drop the temp 30 degrees with hail that blankets the ground. Fall with colors you have to see to believe and the first snow on the Rockies. Valentines Day run to giant Ramada, roaring fire with champagne, chocolate strawberries and snow pictures galor. Steaming locomotive in the snow is amazing. Next stop is True West Trainfest.
Super, unfortunately, I visited the roundhouse as a prospective employee in 1995 and discovered he paid his seasoned 12 yr. employees peanuts for the cost of living/back then. it was deplorable. 5 men I spoke with that rebuild and maintain these ancient beauties of a forelorn carrier…have had 12 yrs of low wages/acccepted it against the grains of time/family…and had to work a total of 3 jobs a day to “keep the job they love”…end of quote. GOD BLESS HE SAVED IT. I rode it 9 times in 17 yrs. I built Titan 3:4 and shuttle recovery system hardware at Martin Marietta, Denver at the time. I am sad he died, I wish he could have been a meek person like Richard Kindig and Bob Richardson/R.I.P.They were fine good ol’boys with their personalities out there for most to see.
Road the D&SNGRR this past October and found it to be a wonderful trip. Will be making another trip to Durango for a second stab at riding this train. Great equipment, outstanding staff and beautiful scenery.
Brass Bearing Bradshaw was a great man and saved a fantastic Railroad, I doubt he purchased it as an investment to make a lot of money, but for the love of the History. I always wanted to work for the D&S too. But knowing that sometimes one has to make a decision between love of the job and the security of a big corporation, I couldn’t leave the SP/UP.
How old was Bradshaw when he died? I read a lot about him at the D&S.