Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

I am seeking dimensional drawings for the original stone Antonito depot. Thanks in advance for any help. Also a good source for old pix of the depot. Russ

Found what I needed here. Russ

http://oahp.historycolorado.org/program ... 5CN499.pdf

Boy, it only took me 3 years to reply to this.....;) My Company has just finished the inside of this Depot for the Town of Antonito (except plumbing). The funny thing is you can't tell when looking at the outside. We've repaired all the broken windows and doors, and then boarded it back up. There seems to be some folks that like to tear it apart, and we're trying to stop that. I'll try to add photos if anyone's interested.
Now we're going for a Grant to rehab most of the outside. Because of funding, this will be done in two phases. The first phase will be to repair the soffit, facia and put a new roof on the building. Also, we will rehab all the window and door frames, and paint. Only the freight office will be left for later.
As stated in the article referenced above, the Depot was expanded, and a second waiting room was added in the existing freight room. A new freight room was added to the south.

Kevin Murray (new member)

Kevin Murray wrote:Boy, it only took me 3 years to reply to this.....;) My Company has just finished the inside of this Depot for the Town of Antonito (except plumbing). The funny thing is you can't tell when looking at the outside. We've repaired all the broken windows and doors, and then boarded it back up. There seems to be some folks that like to tear it apart, and we're trying to stop that. I'll try to add photos if anyone's interested.
Now we're going for a Grant to rehab most of the outside. Because of funding, this will be done in two phases. The first phase will be to repair the soffit, facia and put a new roof on the building. Also, we will rehab all the window and door frames, and paint. Only the freight office will be left for later.
As stated in the article referenced above, the Depot was expanded, and a second waiting room was added in the existing freight room. A new freight room was added to the south.

Kevin Murray (new member)

Welcome aboard Kevin!

It's amazing what you can find delving deep into the archives of this forum!

Any pictures you care to share would be most welcomed, and appreciated on this forum.

Yes Pics please.

Tom C.

Welcome aboard, Kevin. Photos and updates would be most appreciated.

Sure would be neat to someday see a C&T train at the Depot next to a standard gauge train. Crazy? Nah, not really.

Hi all,
I'm trying to figure how to attach the photos. Help!

Kevin Murray wrote:Hi all,
I'm trying to figure how to attach the photos. Help!

Kevin - underneath the window where you write here, you will see a tab that says upload attatchment. Click on that, and you can attach the file you want to upload. If you have any other issues I can take you through step by step if needed.

Also look here for full instructions - viewtopic.php?f=64&t=108

OK......Here goes! Here's some interior before we started. There were some obvious parties in here......

Ok....that worked, so here are some interior finish photos. The paint colors were analyzed, and the rooms were painted with some of the earlier colors found. There were many to pick through, but we picked the earlier colors. I did find the paint colors that C&TS uses after the fact, but they are close to what we used.
Maybe the outside will shine soon too. We'll see if we can get another Grant this Spring. If you all have money burning a hole in your pocket, after donating for 168, the Town of Antonito would like to get to know you better!

Enjoy!
Kevin

Kevin - glad you figured out the posting - thank you for the pictures - looks like you guys were busy, the work looks fantastic!

Thanks Kevin. That's a heckuva a good start. WELL DONE!

Other than you, who is involved in this?

Nice work Kevin! The 2nd photo is interesting as it shows 4 different door treatments (the one in the shadows shows a transom) Modifications over time no doubt.

Thanks all, for the kind words.
In answer, Jason, others involved include the Town of Antonito (naturally) Scheuber & Darden Architects of Aurora, my Company (Empire Carpentry) of Bellvue, and great local talent, including: Bar S Construction (Alamosa), Torres Plumbing (Antonito) and Lopez Electric (Alamosa).

In answer, Rich, the doors and window sashes have yet to be final painted. We did repair a couple of exterior doors that were kicked in, but the paint and final work on them is in the next phase. If you go by the Depot, you would see REALLY ugly doors over the openings. These are security doors that cover the real doors during rehab. It stops people from hurting them. I'll attach an outside photo too.

Larry, thanks for the tech help!

Kevin Murray wrote:
Larry, thanks for the tech help!

You're welcome Kevin, always glad to help when I can, Thanks again for the great photos, really shows the work being done in detail.

It's sure is great to see work done on the depot as it was starting to go down hill fast after so many years of neglect. Kevin, is the roof watertight? It would be sad to see all of your great work damaged because of a leaky roof. Thanks for posting the photos.

Thank you for posting the external pictures of the depot. One of details that I find interesting is the eave support brackets(?). Not sure if that's the correct name but anyway, they look like what was used on the Cumbres' depot and might be a source for future detail information.

Thanks Kevin for updating the status of the depot. Any idea what Antonito plans to do with the depot?

Sorry, thought I'd replied. Antonito would like to find a renter to use the space. I think it would be a great museum or something like that. It's removed from the C&TS enough that it may not be helpful for the Narrow Gauge, unless it became a linchpin between standard and narrow somehow. Time to rack your brains for a good use, that's (obviously) RR oriented.
Cousin Rich, I do believe the brackets on the Depot were somewhat standard on the Rio, so it would be a great idea to come document! I'll do it when the next phase starts, or you're welcome to come by and do so. The Town is worried about break-ins, so be ready with ID & reason.

Hi Kevin: Any news concerning the next grant for the exterior? I really enjoy seeing your company save this wonderful historic asset!

Latest link to the Antonito reference data. Russ

http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/de ... 5CN499.pdf

An update......Antonito received its Grant for most of the exterior of the D&RG Depot. That means we'll be there this summer, most likely. So, drop in and say Hi when you see us on site!

Fantastic news, Kevin.

Please post some photos. We'd love to see your progress.

Hi Kevin: Any news to report in 2016? Looking forward to some pics!

Well, Life is never as easy as you'd think.......We have finally started scraping and preparing the outside of the Depot in Antonito. We will pull windows and doors to repair until hell freezes over, or mid October, whichever comes first. We hope to rebuild the existing chimney next week. There was another chimney added when they extended the building, but was removed above the roof in the late 60's, I think. We will put that one back too this year, depending weather.
On another vein, I found a paint scheme research paper on this site, written by John & Janet Rupley, called "Colors Along the Line". It was done in the July of 1994, and they seemed to be active with the Friends. It is a prepublish draft. It would be REALLY GOOD if I could talk to them in the next couple of days about their findings on the Antonito Depot, as we need to paint soon. Does anyone know how to contact the Rupley's? Thanks for all your help!

Kevin Murray

Kevin: You might try calling Gwen in the Friends office as she may have their number.

Hi Kevin thanks for the updates on your work. I am going to be at the Friends work session in Antonito Sept 26-30. Are you going to be working on the depot during that week? If so can you backchannel me contact information as I am SURE many people would LOVE to have you give a short tour showing off your work.

Please remember to come over to the CRF so we can show you OUR work as well. John

Thanks all! I'll call Gwen. Hope she works weekends!

Thanks too, John about the Invite to have me come by. I'm REALLY good at looking over shoulders and criticizing! ;) I am pretty sure we will be there installing a missing chimney and working on the doors that week. I'll update here as we get closer. Keep an eye out for a semaphore we can install. Ours is missing.....................
Thanks for your interest.

I feel like such a neophyte! Can you all give me contact Info for Gwen at Friends of?

Here it is: (505)880-1311. I doubt she is there on the weekends...try M-F Good Luck!

Kevin,
I just sent you a Forum private message with some possible contact info for the Rupleys.
Paul

Hey Kevin, perhaps we can get you the semaphore we took off of Cumbres Pass section house. It isn't the correct one for you either, but at least it is something. Please PM me with your contact information. Thanks.

Hi Kevin --
I, too, have a copy of "Colors Along the Line" produced by John and Janet Rupley. My recollection is that the C&TSRR Commission did adopt the report as the definitive standard to be used in selecting colors to be used at each historical site along the line (I do recall cringing at having to use "Abandonment" white and green on the buildings at Sublette). Terri Shaw, then President of the Friends, shepherded the report through the review processes at the SHPO's of the two states, obtained Commission approval, and the standard was then followed by the Friends in work sessions.

To quote from the study:
"The primary purpose of this study is to establish a definitive study the (sic) complies with requests from the New Mexico and Colorado State Historical Preservation Officers (SHPO’s) to further establish a basis for color scheme(s) across the 64 mile length of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS RR). This study is necessary to support and establish color selections for individual structures and sites, and to present to the visitor to this historical site a wider view of how it may have looked throughout its one hundred fifteen years."

Kevin, as for which of the several color schemes in the study might be appropriate for the D&RGW Antonito Depot, consistency would suggest using "Scheme C" (light yellow and brown) which the Rupley report recommended for Antonito buildings.

I agree....Scheme C is the way the Architect (Scheuber & Darden) has decided to go. We also found 1940's photos showing locations, so you can expect some appropriate changes.
Thanks to Paul Davenport for the offline info on the Rupleys. I was able to contact them, on your information, and they are looking for more information that may help us.

Hi Kevin, the Friends are working this week in Antonito at the CRF. Please stop by.

[]Hi all,
A few of you did drop by the Depot this fall, but I missed most. Some of you met Dennis Suazo, who grew up near the tracks, and with his local company, Bar S Construction, has done wonders with the outside of the building. He wasn't sure he should talk to folks, so I apoligise for any lack of communication.
We just put the last of the refurbished windows back in their openings and weatherstripped the doors. I think much won't happen now till after Christmas. I'm also guessing that you all will be holed up in your warm holes for a while too. The Depot is now tight enough to have the heat on (thank God) and we're able to keep the paint thawed.
The roof has been torn off and dried in for the new shingles. Shingles should be close to the color of the shingles on the water tower. The second chimney has been rebuilt.

Life is good!...........but cold.
I'll attach a few pictures to update you all. I'm sorry I missed you all this fall, but my time in town did not coincide with yours.
Happy Holidays to all.

Kevin Murray
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Fantastic!

The depot is looking great! Hope to see it in June 2017.

We'll be at the Depot (D&RG Antonito) on the 8th and 9th of November. We're doing a window restoration workshop on the 9th there. Good time to take a look except during the workshop (1-3pm). Again, I would place a flyer for the workshop, but I don't know how. Workshop is free. Interested parties should contact cnasky@coloradopreservation.org by November 1st.

Kevin

Hi Kevin: Is the depot finished? I have not been to it since June last year. Any Pics would be great!

We're going down to size storm windows for the depot next week. We'll take them back home and glaze & paint. After that, we'll install probably early June. We also have to finish the repointing of the stone. The architect has to OK the mortar mix first, but should happen soon. There is some stucco repair to do also, so should be a busy summer. I'll get some photos next week.

Thanks for the update Kevin!