What are the must-see railroad sites in Cheyenne, WY?

[n2mopac]

We are planning our familie's Summer vacation and will be spending a day in Cheyenne, WY. I know this is an big railroad town, so some of you who are familiar with Cheyenne tell me, what are the must-see railroad sites there? Railfanning spots, museums, model railroads etc.--anything railroad related would be helpful as we plan this portion of our trip. And in advance, thanks.

Ron

[johncolley]

I missed it driving through after dark last trip, but on my list is the UP roundhouse, yards and station. They had, maybe still have?, a Big boy or Challenger on display. Good luck and keep us all posted on your finds, please!

[cwclark]

you may see those big DD units out there and a lot of double headed trains...they used them extensively in that area...too bad you aren't going to Utah...if you take highway 6 from Provo to Green River there is a section of track especially in the Price Utah area that is a railfanner's dream...there is a coal mine in Price with a yard that sits on the side of a mountain...lots of train tunnel action too just north of there...Chuck

[cacole]

I believe Cheyenne is the largest Union Pacific yard anywhere in the country. The UP's active steam excursion fleet is based in Cheyenne, as well as their main diesel service and repair facility.

[Pruitt]

I spent a lot of my youth in Cheyenne (woefully long ago now!).

The station is good to see, and is one of Cheyenne's major landmarks.

The Big Boy is in Holiday park. I don't remember directions to get there - I can find it when I'm there, but that's just dead reckoning.

A good place to watch trains is at the west end of the yard, right out in front of the Hitching Post Inn on Yellowstone Highway (I don't remember the hwy number), on west to where I-25 crosses the tracks.

[Don Gibson]

WEST end of town near where trains head into, and out of town.
Borrie, Where the 3 Laramie tracks converge
Scenic Drive - following old C&S tracks (now BNSF) N of Cheyenne to Chugwater. (Follow's the route of the old Chugwater Stage).
Holliday Park, E side Of town (rt 30) was site of a 'Big Boy' - may still be there.
A few miles S of town, where UP and BNSF cross routes from/to Denver, find out when AMTRAK due. There's a Control tower and dirt rd. there.

Favorite Scenic drive - No RR'ing - Happy Jack Rd. Cheyenne - Laramie. Return I-80 and Ames Monument and 'Vedavoo' State Park.- Veedavoo = awesome picnicking.

Be SURE to pick up an 'Official State Hy' map at the State Capitol - fabulous for WY History & sightseeing

My Favorite WY RR spot Wind River Canyon - N. of Shoshoni

[Pruitt]

I agree about the Wind River Canyon, Don - not near as much traffic on the line as the UP over Sherman, but still my favorite.

On my under-construction layout, one side of an entire peninsula is dedicated to the canyon. The other side is the CB&Q route between Casper and the canyon entrance (somewhat condensed!).

[Don Gibson]

Brunton:
I'm Impressed. Any chance of a photo?
Don't forget a fisherman and /or picnic tables on the other side.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

I believe Cheyenne is the largest Union Pacific yard anywhere in the country. The UP's active steam excursion fleet is based in Cheyenne, as well as their main diesel service and repair facility.

The longest railyard in the UNITED STATES is in North Platte, Nebraska. It is a UP yard and so that would eliminate the yard in Cheyene as being the largest UP yard in the country. There is a big boy displayed in a city park in Cheyenne. Cheyenne is a town of only 50,000 or so population so it has a bit of a small town friendly atmosphere. Also be sure to see BNSF as it crosses over the UP (former Colorado and Southern (part of the old CB&Q). If time permits head west over Sherman Hill. There's usually some serious railroadin' going on there!

[dinwitty]

The UP is the major line thru there, but my club had its line run thru there UPish...

There may be a lot of abandoned lines standard and narrow. I have a book on rail lines thru there, I'll track it down and see what.

[Anonymous]

I spent a fascinating afternoon one time in the Wyoming State Archives, browsing through the Joseph Stimson collection. Stimson was a photographer for the UP, but he also took many non-UP photographs while on various trips throughout the west. There are photos of various western shortlines and mining areas. For example, he spent some time in the Cripple Creek area in Colorado.

http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/StimsonCollection.htm

[Anonymous]

There is also a tourist railroad that occassionally handles some freight operating out of Cheyenne. They take you on a two or three hour ride into the mountains (standard guage-or is it gage?). I believe it's called the Wyoming and Coloroado Railroad. When I lived in the Nebraska Panhandle our model railroad club had a "field trip" to Cheyenne which included the WyCo tourist ride. They use former UP equipment (of course!).

[Anonymous]

Ed...........sad to say, but that RR is dead now. It was in the early 90's (I think) that it folded up. Sad.....because it was a VERY nice ride.

To get a 'tour' of the roundhouse, go to the Museum that is on the North Side of the yards. It used to be the old depot, but now has museum and a restaraunt in it. (Great eats too). Ask them if it is possible to go to the roundhouse for a tour. Generally, if someone is over there, they welcome visitors. Who knows, you might even get to see them steaming up ole 844 (which should be running this year!)

To get to the museum, take Central Avenue (if your driving on I-80) and head North over the Viaduct. (If you look West as you cross over the viaduct you will see the round house). Once you down off the viaduct, take a left on Hiway 30 and go a block. At the stop light, take another left and go until the street ends. You should see the museum/old depot right infront of you. (The street is W 15th St I believe)

Craig

[Pruitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

Brunton:
I'm Impressed. Any chance of a photo?
Don't forget a fisherman and /or picnic tables on the other side.

Thanks, Don!

I won't forget the fishermen and tables.

The photos of the layout aren't very inspiring, I'm afraid. Here's one:

The camera is looking down the side of the peninsula where the canyon will be. Obviously I've only gotten as far as benchwork. I may be awhile before I get to this part of the layout, but I'm relly looking forward to doing it!

Here are a couple of prototype photos:

This was the canyon in the 1930s - my layout's era.


This one is looking southbound into the canyon in December 1995. That's a BN freight northbound on the other side of the river.

[Don Gibson]

n2mopac

I'd rate the drive to Chugwater (211 -and back via I 25)
AND
I-80 W to Ames monument (site of original track over Sherman Hill), Picnic lunch at Veedavoo, and return via Happy Jack Rd (210) - or the reverse - my favorites.
FOLLOWED BY
Train activity W end of town. Yards are so big you don't see much, except from the Hy 85 overpass.

Note on Sherman Hill: Tracks were relaid a mile or two E of original site and on fenced off private property, so you won't see any RR activity. Directy behind you (N) was the town of Sherman. All that remain's are the photographs.

Better spend 2 days. I recommend the Hitching Post.

[Pruitt]

We used to have a cabin up in the Snowy Range west of Laramie. We traveled back and forth across the I-80 summit a lot. I can remember the parade of trains where the highway paralleled the tracks - Heading west towards Laramie, we would meet eight or nine trains (I'm not kidding) and pass two ro three more. This was back in the early 70's. That line was BUSY! Is the traffic still that dense? I haven't been over the summit in years.

[ndbprr]

Get off I-80 at Omaha and take US 30 parallel to the UP main all the way to Cheyene. Be sure to have lots of film also. There may be about twenty miles in the whole length 30 isn't right next to the rails. Imagine a kid of 12 years old in 1957 going west from Philadelphia for the first time and winding up at the Hitching Post motel at the west end of Cheyene yard. The motel is still there today. While in the pool Big Boys and challengers marched several trains up Sherman Hill and I can still vividily remember feeling the concusions from the pistons vibrating into the water. My dad took my brother and me accross to the roundhouse where the workers couldn't have been nicer to us. I remember the foreman telling us about a 2-12-0 they were working on. About 10:00PM a Burlington 2-10-0 came northbound on the old C&S line that crosses the UP just west of the motel on a bridge and turned behind the motel. What memories!!!

[n2mopac]

Thanks everyone for the info. I think I can put together an interesting railfanning day with this info. Thanks again!!!

Ron