Colorado Midland Railroad Tunnels - 30th October 2005
Jeff & Ashlee Christlieb along with Don
Chavez and his daughter Josie went down to Manitou Springs to visit the
Colorado Midland Railroad tunnels which was dissolved May 22, 1922.
I've always wanted to visit these tunnels. Steve Garufi of Buena Vista, CO
visited these tunnels in July 2005, and after seeing his pictorial, I
decided to go visit them myself. Steve was living in Manitou Springs during
his visit, but was moving to Buena Vista the day we took our tour. Don
Chavez and his daughter Josie love Colorado history, so they decided to come
along. We went through a total of five tunnels. The hike is only about a
two miles long roundtrip.
Ashlee Christlieb along with Josie & Don
Chavez in front of Balance Rock in the Garden of the Gods. We needed to
stretch our legs, so we made a quick stop here.
Before starting our hike through the Midland
tunnels, we decided to walk up to Rainbow Falls. Ashlee's 3rd great
grandfather claimed to have owned the falls during the 1870s. He
did have a homestead about a 1/2 mile down the road in 1872 and also
owned a home about a 1/4 mile down during the 1870s. I have never found
proof of him owning it. The old Ute Pass road ran right next to the
falls and this plaque commemorates the road. That's Ashlee & Josie.
Don & Josie taking a close look at the
state seal on the plaque.
Down below is Rainbow Falls. That's Don
admiring the view and graffiti.
We started our hike and found these stones
which were used for the railroad bed.
I turned around and took this photo of
Highway 24 and the path where we hiked.
Ashlee, Josie & Don just about to make
it to the
railroad bed.
Ashlee had just emerged from one of the
tunnels and was walking along the railroad bed
Josie, Don & Ashlee at tunnel #5.
Josie, Jeff & Ashlee at tunnel #5.
Tunnel #3 looking out towards Cameron's
Cone. I went back into the tunnel to take this picture. Many famous
photographers including William Henry Jackson took a photo of this view,
of course a lot of dirt and sediment has built up, look below.
View of Colorado Midland Railroad
tracks and Tunnel 3 in Teller County, Colorado; people pose by a
caboose; and Cameron Cone is in the distance. Photo taken by William
Henry Jackson about 1887.
Before leaving town, I had to see William
Palmer's home in Glen Eyrie. The place was closed, but the lady at the
Gate House let me go and take a photo.
Here's another angle. Ashlee's 3rd great
grandfather William Iles worked for Palmer at the Colorado Springs Hotel
and also at the Inn at LaFont in Manitou from October to December
1871.
