Alma Junction, Colorado facts for kids
Alma Junction was an important railway stop in Colorado, United States. It was the end point, or "terminal," for a special train line that connected the towns of Fairplay and Alma. This railway branch was part of the larger Colorado and Southern railway system.
What Was Alma Junction?
Alma Junction was a busy place in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was a key spot for trains carrying goods and people. The railway line that ended here was built to help connect mining areas with other towns.
A Busy Railway Hub
The train station, called a depot, at Alma Junction was very active for many years. It served as a central point for the railway branch. However, the depot eventually closed its doors in 1924. The entire railway line itself stopped operating a few years later, in 1937.
Alma Junction was also known by another name: London Junction. In November 1883, train schedules showed that two trains traveled daily between this junction and a place called Garos. This shows how important the railway was for travel and trade back then.
Connecting to the Mines
A special side track, or "spur line," of the railway was finished in 1882. This track went through a place called Park City and continued all the way up to the London Mines. These mines had been digging for valuable minerals since the 1870s. The railway made it much easier to transport these mined materials.
A Small Town Grows
Because of the railway and the mines, a small town grew up around the Alma Junction depot. By 1884, about 150 people lived there. The town had facilities to process the ore (rock containing minerals) that came from the mines. For a short time, between 1910 and 1912, there was even a smelter. A smelter is a factory that melts down ore to separate the valuable metals from the rock. This smelter stopped working after its owner, George Moe, passed away.
