D & RG Narrow Gauge Trestle, Railway bridge in Montrose County, United States
The D & RG Narrow Gauge Trestle is a Pratt truss railroad deck bridge over the Cimarron River in Montrose County, Colorado, just upstream of its confluence with the Gunnison River and Crystal Reservoir. Built in 1895 to replace an 1882 wooden trestle, it was originally 288 feet (88 m) long; only the central span remains, now holding a static display of railroad equipment.
The bridge was built in 1895 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to replace the original wooden structure from 1882. This upgrade was part of modernizing the narrow-gauge line for improved traffic through the mountain route.
The bridge features a static display of railroad equipment, including the D&RGW No. 278 steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1882.
The trestle stands in Curecanti National Recreation Area, just upstream of where the Cimarron River meets Crystal Reservoir, near Cimarron, Colorado. The rolling stock was removed in 2010 for restoration and returned to the bridge on October 26, 2018. Approach on foot from the surrounding recreation area; surfaces near the river and canyon rim are uneven.
A historic railroad locomotive is displayed at the site, showing the Baldwin steam engine Number 278 from 1882 that represents the era of this narrow-gauge line. This static display allows visitors to see the actual equipment that once powered this mountain railway.
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