Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad
DSP&P Dawson and Bailey 4-4-0
and 2-6-0
Locomotives
National Locomotive Works, of
Connellsville PA, founded by John Y Smith, was one of
the lesser known narrow gauge locomotive builders of the 1870's.
In 1872, Smith formed an alliance with George Dawson, known as
Smith & Dawson. Smith resigned a year later, forcing Dawson to
seek additional partners. This brought in William Bailey to form
Dawson & Bailey. D&B focused on the lucrative narrow gauge
market, in competition with Porter-Bell and Baldwin. D&B
locomotives were generally small and similar to Porter's, but
with a level of finish and elegance of the better known and
established firms in eastern USA. In 1875, Dawson left,
amidst financial troubles. Bailey re-organised as W.H. Bailey &
Co, and maintained business under the National Locomotive Works
trade name, ultimately failing in May 1878.
The first two DSP&P locomotives were a small 2-6-0 Mogul and a
4-4-0 American built by Dawson and Bailey's National Locomotive
Works in 1874. Named "Fairplay" and "Platte Canyon"
respectively, they were the only motive power on the railway
until the first Mason Bogies arrived in 1878 -- 1879. During the
delivery of the Bogies in 1879, the South Park also purchased
three used D&B 2-6-0's from the Cairo and St. Louis Railroad,
originally built in 1875. D&B locomotives were quite fancy with
gold leaf trim, slightly arched windows, and hardwood cabs. The
pretty paint probably didn't last long in the rough service on
the infant
DSP&P. None of these locomotives lasted past 1889.
|
ORIG # |
NAME |
1885 # |
TYPE |
MFG |
BUILT |
|
1 |
Fairplay |
4 |
2-6-0 |
D&B |
1874 |
|
2 |
Platte Canyon |
283 |
4-4-0 |
D&B |
1874 |
|
17 |
== |
140 |
2-6-0 |
D&B |
1875 |
|
18 |
== |
141 |
2-6-0 |
D&B |
1875 |
|
19 |
== |
142 |
2-6-0 |
D&B |
1875 |
HISTORY
DSP&P 2-6-0 #1 "Fairplay"
was used for construction in it's early days. Phil Ronfor's sketch
of DSP&P #1 shows a tender
with a single-axle front truck and a double-axle rear truck. The
engine became DSP&P #4 in the UP renumbering of 1885, was condemned in
1887, and scrapped in 1888.
DSP&P 4-4-0 #2 "Platte Canyon" was used initially on the daily mixed train between
Denver and Morrison, CO. Renumbered to DSP&P #283 in 1885, it
was out of service before 1889.
DSP&P 2-6-0's #17, 18, and 19 arrived used from the Cairo and St
Louis Railroad in November 1879. They were renumbered DSP&P #140 --
142 in 1885, and all three were scrapped in 1889. These units were
somewhat larger than DSP&P #1.
Most
photos of these D&B locomotives are taken from a fair distance
and are a little blurry when blown up to see the locomotive instead
of the scenery. I am not aware of any plans or folio sheets for
these five locomotives.
Unique lettering on
the tender of "Platte Canyon" 
DSP#P #1 "Fairplay"
converted to an 0-6-0 switcher
DSP#P #2 "Platte Canyon" with a borrowed tender
DSP&P 2-6-0 Moguls #17 and #18 (above) and #19 (below)
as seen on the author's Rocky Mountain House,
Leaverite and Northern Railway
PHOTO GALLERY
DSP&P 2-6-0 #1 "Fairplay" built
by Dawson and Bailey in 1874
DSP&P 2-6-0 #1 "Fairplay" , drawing by Phil Ronfor
DSP&P 4-4-0 #2 "Platte Canyon" built by Dawson and Bailey in 1874
DSP&P 4-4-0 #2 "Platte Canyon" built by Dawson and Bailey in 1874
DSP&P 4-4-0 #2 "Platte Canyon" built by Dawson and Bailey in 1874
DSP&P 2-6-0 #17 built by Dawson and Bailey in 1874
DSP&P 2-6-0 #18 built by Dawson and Bailey in 1874
DSP&P Dawson and Bailey 2-6-0 #18 after being renumbered to DSP&P
141
FOLIOS and PLANS
This drawing by
Phillip Ronfor is his interpretation of the first photo in the Photo
Gallery above.
