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(RRAdventures) - Escape the DNC

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(RRAdventures) - Escape the DNC
Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 8:58 PM

I labeled this RRAdventures, "Escape the DNC" as it was August 23rd, 2008 and the "Democratic National Conversion" was occurring in Denver, CO. It was not a political statement but not wanting to be around all the "other" stuff that comes with holding a political convention for any party just down the street from your home.

So, Lisa and I decided to headed into the hills and spend a week plus at higher altitude and do some photography. Some places we have not photographed before as well as places we decided it was time to do it again.

Not everything was RR related but we did catch many of RR shots along the way...

If you are a Fallen Flags fan of the railroads in and around Colorado you are going to love this one...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 10:22 PM

Day#1 (8/23) - C&S Depot @ Idaho Spings


We started out our first day by stopping by a geological road cut along I-70 just outside of Morrison. From there we cruised up in Idaho Springs. Here we find our first RR stop of the day by locating and photographing for the first time the Colorado & Southern Depot that is now a private residence.


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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, October 28, 2010 8:20 AM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...
We next travel just to another section of town here in Idaho Springs to track down another structure we have not previously photograph. Here is the Colorado and Southern Section House.


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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, October 28, 2010 12:56 PM

Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

We continue our day heading up to Dumont, CO to track down the Colorado and Southern depot here which is a private residence.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, October 28, 2010 4:42 PM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...
We would next travel over the Continental Divide at Loveland Pass (Elev. 11,990ft) to do a little hiking as well as stop at Pass Lake.

From there we head to Keystone, CO to track down the Denver, South Park, & Pacific Depot to add to our inventory of surviving stations in Colorado.

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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Thursday, October 28, 2010 5:28 PM

I love seeing what has become of old train stations.

The Lion never got anywhere near Denver.  Are you a transplant?

There is a replica in Honesdale, PA and the last I heard what's left of the original was in Baltimore.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, October 28, 2010 8:18 PM

Phoebe Vet
The Lion never got anywhere near Denver.  Are you a transplant?

LOL!!!!!!!  Laugh

 

Nope, my family has been in Colorado for over 120 years and we slowing cross this nation over several more generations before that.  My love of the D&H was purely accidental and have since travel over allot of it's routes that I will cover in other topics.  So few of D&H Railfans care about the D&H Canal and Gravity Railroad years and I do; so, I took the Lion as my RR handle in honor of those years.  Cool

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, October 28, 2010 9:58 PM

Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

While at the DSP&P Keystone Depot I talked to someone that knew a nice piece of history that he took me outside to share. He had me take a series of shots over the field behind the station and then he explained to me that this is where the WYE was at to turn the trains around. I stitched the four photographs together to give you a feel for what that area looks like today.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:54 PM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

We next pulled into Dillon where we falsely heard the old Depot still existed. We talked to a historian there that and she said it had long since burned down a few years after it was no longer in service. We did however come across a house that was adding a Caboose to it's layout. Interest addition to a house I would say!!!!!!!


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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, October 29, 2010 8:37 AM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...
Before call it a night in Breckenridge we stopped by the Rotary Snowplow Park again, this time to take some SUMMER shots of the equipment there we photographed last WINTER in several feet of snow.

We are in luck, even the museum is open!!!!!!!
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, October 29, 2010 10:53 AM

Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

Here we find Colorado and Southern Boxcar #8323...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, October 29, 2010 7:37 PM

Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

 

OK, you rivet counters, start counting...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, October 29, 2010 10:12 PM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

Keep counting!!!!!!!

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, October 30, 2010 8:29 PM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

Museum & Windmill


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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Saturday, October 30, 2010 10:38 PM
Day#1 (8/23) - Continued...

Inside the museum was a nice collection of photographs and memorabilia of days when the railroad ran here. One of the photographs was of the old Depot and they had the old Depot sign inside that you can see in the old photograph. I also spotted a old cart sitting just outside the museum.

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End of Day #1
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Sunday, October 31, 2010 9:58 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass

As folks I'm sure know by now my RRAdventures website is full of Tourist Railroad shots and few real world Railfan photos. But what folks might not be aware of is that I also take time out to chase RR history and photograph those places before time catches up and they are lost.

So, this next section of our trip we stopped by and photographed many Denver, South Park & Pacific places.

Big Smile Big Smile Big Smile Big Smile
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 1, 2010 8:50 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Baker's Tank


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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, November 1, 2010 10:21 AM

Thanks for sharing.  The multiple views and including the plaques, comments, etc. makes it almost as good as being there. 

A few weeks ago CopCarSS here posted some photos form the same general area - I believe even of the C&S Section House, if I'm not mistaken (and I very well could be . . .  Whistling  )  As I recall it had a very close-up shot of the details of a window and the muntins/ mullions/ window pane dividers, whatever those things are called . . . Confused

Looking forward to the rest of the series.  On balance, I'd say you got the better side of the deal, even if you did miss the UP's steam locomotive and its train and entourage back in town.  (Our daughter was living in Arvada then and went downtown to see the action for a bit.  Unfortunately, she moved to Phoenix about a month later . . . it ain't the same, perhaps needless to say Sigh

- Paul North.   

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 1, 2010 8:06 PM

Glad to know you are enjoying this installment of RRAdventures as I do try to make readers feel they are right there with me.  If folks here would like, I can run some of my old ones I have done on "other" forums here as additional topics.

 

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Colorado and Southern Boxcar #8311
Resting at 11,481 Feet


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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Monday, November 1, 2010 10:08 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

There is a small section of the Wye in front of the Boxcar as well as the remains of a foundation near the Boxcar as well.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 8:23 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Near the C&S Boxcar that was a information sign about the history of the Boxcar, the old Stone Engine House and Turntable, and the Wye and Switch that replaced that after a fire in 1909.

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Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 11:18 AM

Sure....Interesting photos.  I like how your small displayed photos reproduce into  almost full screen displays.

Quentin

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 8:26 PM

Thanks Quentin!

  One thing I have found over the years of sharing topics in forums such as this is folks have various connection speeds.  By using mainly thumbnails within the topics they load faster especially for those still on dial-up connections.  When folks want to see the full size image they just need to click on the thunbnail of choice.

 

Google Earth View

Here is a view that shows the Wye and the foundation of the Stone Engine House that I have marked with a GPS location on one corner. You can see the Boxcar just below the foundation. There is more here yet on the other side of road that will be coming up shortly.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 10:31 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Now before I head across the road and show you what is over there, lets take a break for a short 2 Min. video to give to a better lay of the land from ground level...

 

watch?v=NCy2SWGxDeE

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 2:35 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Lets cross over the road and check out the sign on the other side and read what they have about the history of this site / region and the railroads that operated around here

Front
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Back
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 8:19 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

 

Lisa took several close up shots of the information in case mine were not clear and I found this one well worth adding to the topic as it too shows how things were/are positioned here at this historical RR site.

 

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, November 4, 2010 8:15 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Log Section House
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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Thursday, November 4, 2010 8:11 PM
Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

Let's cross the street and over/around the crossing gate and walk up to the Sign that is in front of the Log Section House. Lisa and I will later start taking photographs from various angles to capture the layout of this facility.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, November 5, 2010 8:37 AM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)

More angles of the Log Section House...

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, November 5, 2010 7:05 PM

Day#2 (8/24) - Boreas Pass (Continued)


Before we start heading down the other side of the pass, I took one more photograph. Here you see the ruins of a few of the homes that also once stood here.

At one time, this was a town of 150 people at an elevation of 11,482 feet that centered around servicing the railroad and even included it's own post office that has long since been lost to history. Mighty harsh living even today as you can actually "Rent" the Log Section House for a few days if you are up to the conditions that can exist here.

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