Located 15 miles east of Montrose in western Colorado, the Black Canyon is a National Park whose name comes from the fact that parts of it receive only 33 minutes of sun per day. In 1882, after a year of construction of the 15-mile track, a narrow gauge railroad started service. The track had no more than 1/4 mile as it’s longest straight line. It was abandoned in 1955. In 1901, after having failed the previous year, the Torrence expedition set out to locate a site for diversion tunnels to utilize the Gunnison River to irrigate the valley. Although successful, the tunnel did not open until 1909. (Click to enlarge all photos.)
Day 1 Pelton/Torrence Failed 1900 Expedition
The Narrows 1900 and 1916 (Kolb Expedition)
Chipeta Falls 1883
Exclamation Point 1900 and with early tourists
