Case in Colorado

[Harry]

Below is a message submitted by Ron Biggerstaff (rbigg@seii.net) on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 at 10:09:52

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Message: Hi, my name is Ron Biggerstaff, and I live in Pensacola, FL. I just tripped across your web site, and thought I'd drop a line and tell you about something I ran across years ago.

First off, I'm not into the steam thing, but generally do like antique engines of any kind. Years ago (probably in the mid '50s), I used to go stay at a huge ranch near Lake Monument up in Colorado with my folks. I think the land was owned by CF & I (Colorado Fuel & Iron) at that time. The tract was leased by the Cabot Corp, and was used as a company guest retreat. I have since lost all contact with the situation there, so have no idea today who owns/controls the land. But, I could find out, if necessary.

Way up on one of the streams in the area is a huge, old, "iron horse", self-propelled, steel wheeled Case steam engine. I think it may have been taken up there for logging, and then simply abandoned. It was old and rusty back then, so is probably in much worse shape today.

It struck me as a shame that an heritage artifact such as this was wasting away. I wonder if a group of you guys would like to make a project out of this thing? If any of you are serious about such an undertaking, I can start the ball rolling by finding out for you who to contact today to get access.

I don't think finding the old steamer would be all that hard. I know of several people up there who know where it is. Getting it out would be a major project, though. I think it would take a big mobile crane to load it, and a big low boy to get it out. The problem is that the access roads are narrow dirt roads, and the steamer is several miles up mountain.

Anyway, if there is any interest in this, just let me know, and we can correspond further. If you're personally not interested, but know someone who might be, please pass this to them.

Ron B

have made contacts, case is gone, in a museum incolorado some where trying to find out