Jim Noonan's "Rio Grande Southern"

All photographs by Bill Mohn

 

 
   
   

Vance Junction, milepost 37.8, was the junction point with the Telluride Branch.  There were two passing sidings and a spur to load the coal chutes.  There was a two-story section house and an old coach that served as a depot and telegraph office.  Several old car bodies were used to house section workers and snow gangs.  Originally the RGS had planned to build a rather elaborate depot south of the section house but the silver panic of 1893 put an end to any thoughts of depot at Vance Junction.

Pandora, at the end of the Telluride branch was a constant source of revenue right up until the end of operations.  First silver and then gold bearing ores were processed at the mills.  The concentrate was shipped in sealed box cars to Ridgeway where it was interchanged with D&RGW.

 
Above left and right - Leased D&RGW K-27 #463 is switching the Smuggler Mill at Pandora.  The concentrate, sealed in boxcars, will be hauled back to Vance Junction and on to Ridgeway.
 
 

Hit Counter