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The Story
A few years ago, I attended an Estate Auction in North Denver. While there I happened to buy a
closed and locked trunk for $25.00. After dragging it home I broke it open. From it's musty
interior sprang forth the usual trunk junk you'd expect to find in such a vessel, some old
clothing (not my size), some trivial trinkets (ugly and moth ridden), and on the bottom a
diary, some papers, and photos. It was to the diary, papers and photos I turned my attention.
After studying these items for a short while, it became apparent that I had stumbled upon the
records of a lost Colorado Railroad. The Big Yawn & Overbite Railway Company!
I don't wish to post any of the photos or documents on the Infobahn at this time, as I'm
waiting to talk with my lawyers about possibly publishing a book using this information. Until
then I'm afraid that you, Gentle Reader, will have to take my word for it that the following is
the True History of the BYOB.
In 1875 the BYOB was started by Lt. K.K. Leicht He set out to run a rail line from Denver
through Golden and up the Clear Creek to the logging operations at Overbite. Along the way they
hoped to pick up extra revenue by tapping the mines that were growing along Clear Creek. But
before they could reach Overbite they would have to cross a
valley , called by the first
white man to see it, "nothing but a Big Yawn". After reaching the Big Yawn and constructing a
trestle, known as the "Devils Gate Viaduct", the BYOB was taken to court by a rival railroad.
The Colorado Central claimed to have trackage rights through Clear Creek. With the use of
several well placed bribes, some riflemen, and the help of a certain woman named "Doris", the
C.C. won their case and took over the BYOB's track from Denver to Overbite.
In 1880 the C.C. fell into the hands of Jay Gould. It was said Gould had taken over the C.C.
through some shaky legal maneuvers and the help of his faithful secretary, Doris. By 1881 this
was all under the control of the Union Pacific along with many other Colorado railroads both
Standard and Narrow Gauge. December 1898 brought about the dismantling of the U.P. Empire in
Colorado. Most of these railroads were reorganized as the Colorado and Southern. It was at this
point that Lt. K.K. Leicht and his BYOB reenter our story.
The new C&S faced a monumental task of reorganizing the many railroads that had fallen into
it's hands including, the C.C., Denver Leadville and Gunnison (formaly the D.S.P.&P.), and
Union Pacific and Gulf, to name but a few. While the C&S was preoccupied, Lt. Leicht and his
new bride, Doris, were able to retake control of the former C.C. in early 1899. The C&S
management embarrassed at having misplaced an entire railroad line, made a deal with Lt.
Leicht. The BYOB would give the C&S limited trackage rights over the line in exchange for the
right to lease equipment from the C&S. The BYOB at this time having control of the Clear Creek
line but no equipment of it's own, to speak of. In return the BYOB could not reletter any of the
C&S equipment. This "Deal" went a long way to help ensure the elimination of the BYOB from the
annals of Colorado railroading.
In 1930, after the death of her Husband at 85, Doris in collusion with the Managment of the C&S,
managed to purge any mention of K. K. Leicht and his BYOB from all records. They even went so
far as to bury any mention of the Piute Lumber Company.
Well, that's all of the story I wish to divulge at this time. For more details and photos,
please look for my book "The True and Complete History of the Big Yawn & Overbite Ry. Co.",
soon to be out of print at a bookseller near you.
The Real Story
The BYOB, located in Denver, Colorado (the home of narrow gauge), is a Colorado & Southernish
railroad set in the mountains near the town of Georgetown, Colorado. Although Georgetown isn't
actually portrayed, the town of Big Yawn stands in for it nicely. Big Yawn is named for the
large chasm located nearby. Spanning this gorge is the infamous Devils Gate Viaduct. this is
a model I'm building in 1:20.3 scale, and which I hope to be the focal point of my railroad.
Big yawn is connected to the city of Denver via a mainline that winds it's way through some
high Colorado mountains, past the logging operation at Overbite, the Piute Lumber Co. (my other
railroad), several mines, and a high country lake, which feeds Clear Creek running under the
DGV.
Why? I grew up in Colorado, and used to go up to Georgetown with my friend Mike Ramsey. His
father had a cabin there. Mike and I used to walk the Georgetown Loop to Silver Plume and
always stopped to sit on the abutments of the old bridge. We would have lunch and wonder if
anyone would be rich and stupid enough to rebuild the loop and that bridge. Well, someone did
rebuild The Loop and I'm building my own Bridge.
One other Thing: I have MS and use a wheelchair as you may be able to tell from my photo. You
may also be able to tell I'm into Buckskining and Muzzle Loading.
Although, I can't do the layout work myself, I did have several volunteers helping me with this
project, but they all flaked out and want money for their work. I am now paying one person to
work on the BYOB and so this railroad is taking only a little longer to build than the real
Georgetown Loop.
Slim & Stumpy visit the BYOB
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