Southern Pacific narrow gauge gondolas at the terminus of the Leschen Aerial Wire Rope Tramway (1950)

Photograph of the Southern Pacific narrow gauge gondolas at the terminus of the Leschen Aerial Wire Rope Tramway, October 31, 1950; Caption on image: Southern Pacific. This is the cable tramway terminal that once helped keep the narrow gauge busy. Surveying for the Cerro Gordo tramway actually began in 1908. In June of 1908 four railroad cars arrived at Keeler with lumber for the tramway. One hundred men were employed to build the tramway, which ran from the Cerro Gordo mine down to the Four Metals Company Smelter, east of Keeler. The tramway began service in the spring of 1909, a few months after the Four Metals Company Smelter had been put into operation in December of 1908.