Railroads
The late 1870s brought the railroad to Park County and allowed the prices of both cattle and hay to skyrocket.[1] Goods could suddenly be efficiently shipped to remote locations and this newfound convenience only served to increase demand. Ranchers living nearest the railroad experienced the fullest impact of its presence.
Although having the railroad so near may seem an overwhelmingly positive asset, the rail cars were also dangerous for the surrounding ranchland. Known to throw off sparks when the great engines lumbered along their metal tracks, trains soon represented the threat of fire in addition to the hope of profit.[2] These fires ranged in size but could sometimes cover hundreds of acres of grasslands threatening valuable hay, cattle, and buildings. One such example of these fires took place in November of 1898 when a fire started by a train claimed several hundred acres of the Chalmers and Galloway Ranch along with almost 100 tons of hay.[3]
Despite these threats, by 1887 the Colorado Midland Railway expanded the railway to run through the southern portion of South Park, establishing stations along the way at Howbert, Spinney, and Hartsel.[4] The railroad in this area came to be known as the “stockman’s railroad” as it was known for the shipment of large quantities of livestock and even included large pens for the stock at the railroad facilities.[5]