Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Stock Car No. 5620
Montrose County
The Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) Railroad Stock Car No. 5620 is important for its role in agriculture, particularly ranching. The raising of livestock, especially sheep, was an important activity in Colorado and the American West. The railroad moved livestock between summer and winter pastures, a seasonal operation typical of high-country ranching, and also delivered livestock to market. Livestock operations took place in various locations around the state, in particular the southern San Luis Valley and the Gunnison area, including Cimarron-Curecanti.
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Stock Car No. 5620 (2008 photograph.)
In addition to transporting local stock, the D&RGW served as a link for cattle moving through Colorado to eastern markets. Increasing use of trucks and the need to transfer livestock from narrow-gauge cars to standard-gauge for travel beyond the D&RGW’s shrinking narrow-gauge system led to a gradual decline in the use of narrow-gauge stockcars. Built by American Car and Foundry in 1904 as part of a series of 350 cars, the wood cars were specifically designed to ship cattle or sheep. The all-wood construction typifies early twentieth-century rail car construction.