# Monarch Branch

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The **Monarch Branch** was a [branch line](/source/Branch_line) of the [Denver & Rio Grande Western](/source/Denver_%26_Rio_Grande_Western) built in the 1880s to serve the [Colorado Fuel & Iron](/source/Colorado_Fuel_%26_Iron) [limestone](/source/Limestone) [quarry](/source/Quarry) at [Monarch, Colorado](/source/Monarch,_Colorado). Originally part of the D&RGW's [3 ft 0 in (914 mm)](/source/3_ft_gauge_railways) [narrow-gauge](/source/Narrow-gauge_railway) system, the 15 mile line connected with the rest of the narrow-gauge [network](/source/Rail_network) at [Poncha Junction](/source/Poncha_Junction), on the [Marshall Pass](/source/Marshall_Pass) line. The upper part of the Branch was on a 4.5% [grade](/source/Ruling_grade) and included both an ["S" curve](/source/Reverse_curve) and a double [switchback](/source/Zig_zag_(railway)) to reach an [elevation](/source/Elevation) of over 10,000 ft (3,000 m). The line was converted to [standard-gauge](/source/Standard-gauge_railway) in 1956 after the narrow-gauge mainline from [Salida](/source/Salida,_Colorado) to [Gunnison](/source/Gunnison,_Colorado) was closed in the early 1950s. From that time forward, the line operated as a standard-gauge branch of the D&RGW until the early 1980s when Colorado Fuel & Iron closed its [blast furnaces](/source/Blast_furnace) at [Pueblo, Colorado](/source/Pueblo,_Colorado). Operations on the Monarch Branch subsequently ceased and the rails were pulled up a short time later.[1]

## Operations

During the later narrow-gauge era, the line was worked with the D&RGW's fleet of [K-36](/source/D%26RGW_K-36) and [K-37](/source/D%26RGW_K-37) [2-8-2](/source/2-8-2) [steam locomotives](/source/Steam_locomotive). Depending on the direction, trains would run either [double headed](/source/Double_heading) or with a [banker](/source/Bank_engine) on the steep gradients. Once the switchbacks had been reached, each train was broken up and run in [sections](/source/Section_(rail_transport)). Loaded trains then traveled to the D&RGW's yards at Salida, where the Stone was [transferred](/source/Transshipment) to standard gauge gondola cars via a purpose built [rotating 'barrel'](/source/Rotary_car_dumper).[2][3]

Once the branch was converted to standard gauge, trains ran double-headed with D&RGW 4-axle [EMD](/source/Electro-Motive_Diesel) [GP9s](/source/EMD_GP9) and in later days [GP30s](/source/EMD_GP30), [GP35s](/source/EMD_GP35) and [GP40s](/source/EMD_GP40). During this period of operations, each train was broken up before the climb up the steep grades.[4] 6-axle [SD9s](/source/EMD_SD9) were tested on the branch but derailed due to the tight curves. Diesels assigned to the branch were given modified [dynamic brakes](/source/Dynamic_brakes) to cope with the 4.5% grades. Dynamic brakes were of no use on the steep grades between Monarch and Maysville, which required the use of retainers (retaining valves on the air brake exhaust line). When making the air brake test (before leaving Monarch) the engineer would set the brakes and release them. The train crew would then ascertain that the brakes were still applied on the cars.

## References

1. ["DRGW.Net | Monarch Branch"](http://www.drgw.net/info/MonarchBranch). *www.drgw.net*. Retrieved 2018-05-17.

1. ["The Monarch Branch of the D&RGW, edited by Russ Collman – Colorado Central Magazine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054538/http://cozine.com/1994-september/the-monarch-branch-of-the-drgw-edited-by-russ-collman/). *cozine.com*. Archived from [the original](http://cozine.com/1994-september/the-monarch-branch-of-the-drgw-edited-by-russ-collman/) on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2018-05-17.

1. ["PAGE 99 - July 2010 - Carendt.com"](http://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/page-99-july-2010/#Salida). *Carendt.com*. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2018-05-17.

1. ["Rio Grande's Monarch branch out of Salida, CO."](https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?18,3289336). *Trainorders.com Discussion*. Retrieved 2018-05-17.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Monarch Branch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_Branch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_Branch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.