Early Freighting Ventures

Early Freighting Ventures. . , Bull Whackers and Mule Skinners , Discovery of gold and silver in the 1870s in the San Juan Mountains south of Montrose created a demand for freighting services to haul equipment and supplies into the mines and carry out ore bound for outside markets. Packing and wagon-freighting quickly grew into a business that at its height employed thousands of men and animals., Early freighters A. E. "Uncle Bud" Buddecke and Richard Charles Diehl formed what was to become a lucrative partnership in Kansas in 1882. They each purchased a six-mule team, loaded their wagons with groceries and merchandise, and set out for the Uncompahgre Valley shortly after it opened for settlement. , The Greatest Freighter in the West , Operating from a location on the corner of North First and Rio Grande in Montrose, Dave Wood built a million-dollar freighting and stage line that flourished as a railroad end-of-the-line operation for a decade during the late 1800s. To serve outlying mining communities not yet connected by railroad lines, Dave Wood used wagons designed for heavy service, carrying up to 4,000 pounds of freight and pulled by teams of six mules paired in tandem., The Coming and Heyday of the Railroad , To serve mining needs for faster and more efficient transportation, the Denver and Rio Grande (D&RG) Railroad reached newly-established Montrose in 1882. The picturesque narrow gauge track through Montrose was part of the Denver/Salt Lake City east-west main line until 1890 and provided the foundation for permanent settlement and increased mining, farming, fruit growing, and ranching. The railroad provided a vital link between southwest Colorado and important markets of the state and nation., Clinging to high mountain cliffs and overhanging the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon, the narrow gauge route provided passengers with plenty of thrills. , Completion of other narrow gauge lines to the mining communities south of Montrose assured Montrose's status as a railroad center for many years., The Railway Station in Montrose , In addition to the D&RG Railroad Depot built in 1912, the early Montrose railroad yard included several features to serve the needs of the narrow gauge trains. Facilities included a water tower, ice house, a repair facility, stockyards, and a section house used to house railroad workers. Today, the handsome depot building houses the Montrose County Historical Society Museum and stands as a symbol of the important role played by narrow gauge railroads in the early days of Montrose history. , The Demise of the Narrow Gauge , In 1890, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad established a primary, standard gauge line north of Montrose through Grand Junction. Although no longer a main east-west route, the narrow gauge railroad through Montrose continued to serve as a regional railroad line. A feeder line between Montrose and the main line in Grand Junction continued to provide southwest Colorado's mining, ranching, and agricultural industries access to outside markets. , The slow-down of mining, the advent of automobiles, and the building of better roads eroded the need for narrow gauge rail service in the region. The Great Depression of the 30s and the paving of roads in the 40s struck the final blow, and the narrow gauges in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre Valleys were doomed. By 1953, the little trains were gone altogether. Old grade lines can still be seen along Highways 50 and 550 in many places, fading reminders of the glory days of a romantic era. , Denver and Rio Grande Railroad narrow gauge Engine #278 and cars may be viewed twenty miles east of Montrose at Cimarron.