Next Saturday I leave for a month of work outside of Denver, about an hour from the CRM. I definitely plan to hit that up one weekend, along with Caboose, which isn't too far away either. Anyone in the area interested in meeting up and talking trains?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Don't forget to visit the Model Railroad in the Basement of the Colorado Railroad Musuem. They also have a G-Scale layout on site as well out back of the station building.
If you have time, I also suggest visiting the Colorado Model Railroad Musuem in Greeley,CO (about a hour drive northeast of Denver). If you haven't seen their layout you are in for a treat. The layout itself is 5600 Sq. Ft. and it takes aproximately a 45 minutes (with all green signals) at scale speed to make one loop around the layout.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
While you are in Golden, wander over for a tour of the Coors brewery.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I wouldn't be advertising the fact that you're going to be away for a month, unless you have guard serpents.
The Georgetown loop is just about an hour out of Denver. It is a long way down to Durango (6 hours) to the Durango and Silverton but worth it- get tickets in advance though. Same thing if you would decide to go to Chama. There is also the train through the royal gorge three hours away.
If you are going to Durango, the scenic route is longer but traveling through Ouray is spectcular.
maxman I wouldn't be advertising the fact that you're going to be away for a month, unless you have guard serpents.
Yep, practice good opsec as they call it.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I have guard Pugs. Feed them treats and you are in.
Beside, the house will not be unoccupied. I don't live alone.
BigDaddy While you are in Golden, wander over for a tour of the Coors brewery.
Was planning on that one too.
drgwcs The Georgetown loop is just about an hour out of Denver. It is a long way down to Durango (6 hours) to the Durango and Silverton but worth it- get tickets in advance though. Same thing if you would decide to go to Chama. There is also the train through the royal gorge three hours away.
I'd love to get down there but I don't think I will have time. I am there for work - in Black Hawk to be exact. I only have some time on the weekends to go do things.
I have plans for a potential vacation trip where I will base myself in Vegas and head over to the Nevada Northern and run the train, and also hit up the Hoover dam and Grand Canyon. Some day I will get to the old narrow gauge.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Hello All,
And a hearty pre-welcome to the Centennial state !!!
rrinkerI am there for work - in Black Hawk to be exact.
The Black Hawk/Central City area is only about 45-minutes from Golden and the Colorado Railroad Museum.
The museum is about 10-minutes downstream of the Coors plant and Golden, Colorado.
The grain used to make the beer is still shipped in by rail and there is an extensive yard across the creek from the museum.
You are about a half hour from George town and/or Silver Plume. When riding the George Town Loop I prefer to begin and end at Silver Plume (a little farther west on I-70).
This is where the engine house is along with the refuelling facilities and a small gift shop are located.
Ask at the gift shop if a mechanic is available for a tour of the maintenance facilities. They maintain both steam and diesel motive power out of this same shop. The steam locos have been converted to run on oil rather than coal.
Just across I-70 is the town of Silver Plume. It's a sleepy little town with a few shops but the architecture, with it's modeling potential is well worth the time.
An added bonus on this line is to visit the Lebanon And Everett mine; which is only accessible via the train (bring some extra cash to tip your mine tour guide).
If you are a mining buff check out the Argo Gold mine tours in Idaho Springs. Idaho Springs is a restored Victorian age town with many restaurants and the Tommy Knocker brewery. Look up "Tommy Knockers" to understand the mining reference.
To return to the Black Hawk/Central City area you can take "Oh My God!" road. Yes, that is the real name.
Along the route you will be rewarded with spectacular views and pass by some of the last operating gold mines in Colorado.
The almost ghost-town or Russell is along this route and a side excursion on its now abandoned streets is fascinating.
Greely is about 2-hours north-east, but well worth the trip to the Colorado Model Railroad Museum.
I live about 3-hours away and try to get there on special trains days.
The last one I attended was the Extreme Trains Day. There were two trains running; one a tanker train and the other an auto rack train that were amazingly long.
On one point of the layout you could see the same train on three different loops!
While there go to the dispatchers desk and see if one of the volunteers can take you on a behind-the-scenes tour.
Become a member to support this amazing endeavor.
About 2-hours to the south is Colorado Springs- -welcome to the west where distances are much greater. To the west of Colorado Springs is the town of Canyõn City, home to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
This out-and-back excursion train is still lead by F-units in their orange, silver and black livery colors.
A visit to the depot is great.
If you don't have enough time for the train head a little farther west to the Royal Gorge Bridge.
This is one of the highest suspension bridges in North America. An incline railroad drops you track-side into the gorge. Figure out the train's schedule and watch the excursion train from the riverside observation platform.
If you make it to Denver the Forney Museum of Transportation is a must see. One of the last remaining Big Boy steamers (albeit non-running) is housed here along with one of my favorite diesels- -a GP30 in it's original Rio Grande paint scheme.
As far as Caboose Hobbies, it is worth a visit. The original; at it's Broadway location, was a mecca. When I would visit there would be license plates from as far away as Wyoming, Kansas, Utah and New Mexico.
The new location is great. Yet it doesn't seem to have the same personality as the original. The new owner is passionate about the hobby and this store is definitely worth patronizing.
Yes, distance here in Colorado are greater than in many other states but the travel times are well worth it.
Have a great time and as always...
I hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Bayfield Transfer Railway BigDaddy While you are in Golden, wander over for a tour of the Coors brewery. I'd rather go someplace where they brew beer.
I'd rather go someplace where they brew beer.
You can visit Golden City Brewery. Its the second largest brewery in Golden. They have a pretty good selection of beer.
rrinker drgwcs The Georgetown loop is just about an hour out of Denver. It is a long way down to Durango (6 hours) to the Durango and Silverton but worth it- get tickets in advance though. Same thing if you would decide to go to Chama. There is also the train through the royal gorge three hours away. I'd love to get down there but I don't think I will have time. I am there for work - in Black Hawk to be exact. I only have some time on the weekends to go do things. I have plans for a potential vacation trip where I will base myself in Vegas and head over to the Nevada Northern and run the train, and also hit up the Hoover dam and Grand Canyon. Some day I will get to the old narrow gauge. --Randy
If you are in Black Hawk you are 30 minutes away from the Georgetown Loop. Definitely worth a trip- a fun ride over the bridge. This is a must do. Colorado and Southern 71 is stuffed and mounted in Central City. Another engine is in Idaho Springs. I will echo the comments above you will be right in the heart of Colorado and Southern narrow gauge territory in Blackhawk.
Tommyknockers is in Idaho Springs. Georgetown has the energy museum and the Hotel De Paris museum - both are interesting. While in Blackhawk pop over to Central City; much cooler. If you head west you might catch Amtrak in Glenwood Canyon.
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
Colorado_MacTommyknockers is in Idaho Springs.
Noted and corrected!
Hope this helps.
Didn't realize Georgetown Loop was that close, i will definitely be going there one weekend as well.
GF is going along for part of the time, and she doesn;t want to do just train things, so we are hitting up the botanical gardens and the science museum. She'll fo the CRM and go along to Caboose but she doesn't want to ride on the train, no matter how much scenery you can see. So I'll do that one on my own. She doesn't like 'fancy' beer, her favorite is Coors Light so - to Coors we go. I would much rather go some place the makes real beer, as opposed to beer flavored spring water. I have a 3 hour layover on my flight in O'Hare so I'll hit up Goose Island for lunch.
I just have this deeling that I will find stuff I need at Caboose, since it seems that in general, the local road stuff sells out first, so looking for Reading in Colorado may yield paydirt. I may have to have them ship it home for me, won't be much roooom in my luggage for extras, not when I have to pack for a month. I'm going to try and cram in boots and jeans tooo hit up some of the mine tours.
rrinkerI would much rather go some place the makes real beer...
You won't have a problem there! Colorado is know for it's craft breweries and even a few distilleries!
Safe travels!!!
jjdamnit Colorado is know for it's craft breweries and even a few distilleries!
Colorado is know for it's craft breweries and even a few distilleries!
Not just Colorado, but many places. Craft breweries seem to have sprung up like mushrooms all over the place. Here in northern Virginia, you can't hardly swing a cat without hitting a craft brewery. Not that I'm complaining.
Georgetown Loop was awesome. Road that Sunday. Great that they do not talk on the uphill trip (I got on in Silver Plume as recommended), that engine sure was working on the uphill and sounded great. I did get some video from about 4 cars back, hopefully the sound comes through.
Not sure what the agenda is for this weekend. Possibly brewery/CRM/Caboose. Or maybe a drive through the mountains. GF is scared to death of narrow windy roads with sharp dropoffs though so I dunno why she wants to torture herself that way.
Glad you made it to the Georgetown Loop. Hope the video turned out.
We were just in Black Hawk on Tuesday. Not much luck but the weather was great.
Took the "Oh My God" road out of Idaho Springs, with the detour through Russel Gulch. Great views- -but probably something the GF would not enjoy.
Wednesday, yester day, I visited the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greeley, Colorado.
I renewed my membership and got the information on how to be a volunteer engineer on the railroad.
If you do get to Greeley, there is a great sandwich shop on the corner of 8th Ave. (north-south) and 9th St. (east-west) called the Mad Cow. It's about 2-blocks from the museum. (Hint: park across from the museum for free and walk to the restaurant).
If you are looking to splurge, Kenny's Steak House can't be beat! It's away from the down town area but worth finding.
Again, to the Centennial State!
Shoulda told me you were here, could have met you.
Given the way she was freaking out coming up the main Central City Parkway after we ate at the BBQ place in Idaho Springs, OMG road is off the table. I may check it out when I am on my own. Not that the rental car is worthy of such things.
ANd she wants to go driving up through Rocky Mountain National Park - yeah, I think I am going to just put in some earplugs and just drive.
RMNP was great. Yes, there was much yelling and the assist handle was nearly pulled out, but the views were amazing.
Caboose on Sunday, was better than some locals led me to believe. Lots of stuff on the shelves, but my strategy of hoping to find Reading stuff on the opposite side of the country where most people woudl want Western roads failed, I got one Atlas CNJ box car. And a Reading pin.