 Times were tough during the Great depression and by the end the narrow gauge was worn out.What was left of the former Denver South Park & Pacific between Denver and Leadville including the Alma branch and Keystone branch was removed in the Summer of 1938 excluding a short 14 mile segment between Leadville and Climax, Colorado and Denver and Waterton, Colorado.The next line to fall was between Silver Plume and Idaho Springs, Colorado in 1939.