Cumbres Car Inspectors House

[Jason Rose]

I'm working on a project that I'll share later and am looking for information about what a daily routine entailed on Cumbres Pass around the turn of the century. I asked this about a year and figured it's about time to ask again.

Does anyone have a floor plan or historic photos of the interior? I'm assuming there was a kitchen and living room on the first floor and bedrooms upstairs. The Friends have reconstructed a coal storage area, a chicken coop, and a stable out back. Might be some other things there as well that I couldn't identify.

My understanding is that the Car Inspector:

-Checked trains going each way for brake functionality.
-Made repairs to brakes if necessary.
-Replaced worn brake shoes.
-Made any needed repairs/triage to cars/cargo that were damaged on the way up.

What else did he do?

How many people lived there during the peak?
-Car Inspector and family (CI House)
-Depot Agent and family (2nd floor of Depot)
-Section Foreman and family (in Section House)
-Section Gang (Bunk House)
-The Lively Family (near store?)

I'd really appreciate any insight you can offer. Personal stories would be fantastic. I'm really trying to get a feel for what life was like up there.

Thank you.

[Steve Ritchie]

Great idea Jason, I'll look around at my resources and see if I can find anything. It will be interesting to what you come up with. Surely with all the Friends that are out there someone will be able to come up with something, Steve.

[Richard Lively]

Apparently they had Lively visitors as well. My grand-dad, L.S. Lively worked the Alamosa station and travelled on the San Juan Extension to Durango for work on occasion. My uncle tells me he and L.S. took the train and stopped at Cumbres to visit with C.R. Lively and Kenneth. I’m frequently digging around in family history and if I run across anything of interest I’ll gladly pass it along.

Rick Lively

[Jason Rose]

Thank you, Rick. That is most appreciated.

To elaborate on my project, I'm slowly writing a book for kids (mostly for my son) about what life was like there. It's centered around 2 brothers and their family that lives in the Car Inspectors House. Though the family is fictitious, I want all the details around them to be correct.

If I end up with something that is worth reading, I may offer it to the railroad to sell in the gift shop. When a guest asks what that little house on Cumbres is for (as I did on my first trip), the Docents will be able to point them to the book for all their answers.

[Allan Kirkpatrick]

Jason,

What a great idea! I hope that this will come to fruition.

Allan

[Jason Rose]

Here's the first paragraphs.

The story is finished, but needs a ton of work. I'll polish it up eventually and maybe post it here for a review.

[Richard Lively]

Another interesting tidbit. I’m in contact with Norvin R. Lively’s granddaughter and she has a postcard sent by Norvin from Cumbres to his soon to be wife in La Veta. He was apparently helping out brother Charles. The postcard made it sound like he was doing most of the work. Possibly related to missing La Veta and taking orders from his older brother :)

[Richard Lively]

I’ve been continuing to trace family history. I believe the first stop in Colorado was Pagosa Junction, followed by La Veta Pass. C.R. left the nest for Embudo, then Osier. Marriage followed and the family including Ida Mae’s son settled in at Cumbres. Followed by Ken’s birth in Chama. All of the telegraphers (5 of them in the family) worked at some time at either Chama or Cumbres or both. I have the gene. I just need more practice :) And better snow removal equipment.

I’ve talked with others on The C & TSR and this seems to be a common experience. Many frequent moves between stations. The 3 brothers and sister all were born along the railway line from Utah to Colorado.

[Jason Rose]

Thanks again for the insight, Richard. Really appreciate you sharing this.

[Craig Kumler]

Any work presently going on at Cumbres?

[Pete Dahlberg]

I believe they are currently working on drainage around the site. There will be a crew there for the next 2 weeks for sure

[Craig Kumler]

Thanks Pete!