Marshall Pass

Marshall Pass in 1899

Map of Marshall Pass railroad around 1895

Marshall Pass (elevation 10,842 feet) was part of Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge transcontinental route from Denver to Salt Lake City. The pass is between Salida and Gunnison and crossed the Continental Divide at the 10,845 ft (3,306 m) summit. The line was completed in 1881 ahead of the Denver, South Park & Pacific's Alpine Tunnel. The line closed with the Gunnison Division in 1955 and the rails lifted the same year.

Marshall Pass, Colorado was a small settlement, railroad station and post office. The population was 11 in 1948; there were six buildings then. Time Magazine called it "the U.S.'s smallest post office." ^[1] Marshall Pass was discovered by, and named for, Lt. William L. Marshall of the Wheeler Survey in 1873. ^[2]

The line saw the daily Shavano passenger train until this ended. Today, a gravel road still follows the old railroad route over the summit, in northern Saguache County. In the summer and late fall, this drive is especially beautiful. It is also traversable by regular passenger cars in good conditions.

Marshall Pass is just a few miles south of Monarch Pass. From the east take US 285 south from Poncha Springs (near Salida) about 6 miles to CR 200 and turn right; from the west turn right off US 50 at Sargents. While grades are gentler (the railroad had a ruling grade of 4%) than US 50 over Monarch (7% grades), please note that the Marshall Pass Road is closed to wheeled vehicles during the winter months. Marshall Pass is usually—but not always—a better route for small aircraft passing over the continental divide than the Monarch Pass.

Gallery

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  A great deal of Philatelic mail originated at the post office at Marshall Pass

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  Denver & Rio Grande Railroad train at Marshall Pass, around 1890. Photo by William Henry Jackson.

References

1. ^ Time magazine, Monday, Nov. 01, 1948
2. ^ "Lt. Marshall Discovers Marshall Pass"

External links

• "The Phantom Train of Marshall Pass"

Coordinates: 38°23′29″N 106°14′50″W / 38.39139°N 106.24722°W / 38.39139; -106.24722