When I visited a friend who lived in Denver, we rode Georgetown Loop, short ride but very scenic. Leadville, Colorado & Southern was good one too, could see the highest peak in CO or so we were told. And definitely the Royal Gorge Route-that was awesome. I heard a train horn after we had walked across the bridge, ran to top of hill to look down and saw a train. I knew there had not been a train down there for years. So checked it out at my hotel and when I went back the following year, we rode RGR. To come into the Gorge and see the bridge high above and cross the Hanging Bridge and sit for a minutes was like something from a dream, I never expected to be able to do it since I knew D&RGW had stopped trains years before.
I did ride the Durango & Silverton years before with friends, when it was still operated by the D&RGW. That's an experience not to be missed either.
Steve:Thanks for update. That is a gorgeous (getting tired of using that word lately) area. The valley thru Paonia seems like an interesting place. Good to hear they are loading more coal than I had thought. The local train would have been interesting to watch. Glad we didnt get behind the marble truck over McClure Pass.
Black Bridge Winery was outstanding...thanks Mudchicken for recommendation.
Already wishing we had time to return in October.
Ed
MP1731. Bailey Yard was well worth the time in North Platte. We also drove west on US 30 about 20 miles, seeing 3 UP trains.
Did you go into town to check out the Challenger and Centennial on static display at the Cody Park Railroad Museum?
(1) BNSF can't touch it. (Glenwood no longer a team facility even though the track and dock exist)
(2) UP tries really hard to minimize having a road switcher stopping in Glenwood and possibly bind up through movements with Amthrax and the unit trains (choke point)
4. Spotted a coal train on the North Fork Sub at Paonia and chased it to Hotchkiss and actually took a photo...not very good nor scenic. The mining activity seems down as only 1 mine on the line is active. The local organic farmers are very happy with that.
I live near Hotchkiss and do contract work at one of the Mines, Bowie Resources. There are 2 working mines, Bowie Resources and the West Elk Mine. Bowie loads 3-4 trains a week. I think West Elk Mine is about the same. There is one local mix freight once a week from Grand Junction to Delta and up to Montrose. This train switches 4-5 covered hoppers of chicken feed in Delta. There are 6-8 tank cars of anhydrous ammonium fertilizer on the side track in Olathe. Also, Lumber products to Montrose on center beam flat cars. Loads going out, back to Grand Junction are 2 gondolas of scrap metal from Montrose. I noticed that about a year ago that Marble is loaded into gondolas in Delta. Large blocks 4-6 feet square or rectangle cubes. The Marble comes from the Yule Marble Quarry on the other side of McClure Pass. I wonder why they chose to truck the Marble to Delta which is a 72 mile trip over McClure pass ( Elev 8760 ) instead of the 41 miles to Glenwood Springs which is all down river. Union Pacific does not want to be bothered with loading single cars in Glenwood Springs ?
Steve
Home again in Indiana after 8 days. It was a great trip to Colorado and we roamed the state and actually saw a few trains. Here is a summary:
1. Bailey Yard was well worth the time in North Platte. We also drove west on US 30 about 20 miles, seeing 3 UP trains.
2. Gore Canyon on the UP (DRGW) west of Kremmering is quite scenic, but we saw no trains. The UP 2015 calendar features a photo of the canyon on the June page.
3. Minturn to Leadville drive was scenic and the remnants of the Tennessee Pass were spectacular. Also did a little fly fishing south of Leadville adjacent to the tracks. Sad to see the line out of service. The rails and signals stand ready (with a little work and a lot of cash). What a trail that would be...no doubt the rail to trails folks are drooling over that.
5. Followed the Arkansas River and UP Tennesee Pass line from Salida to Canyon City. Oh, what it must have been like to have had trains on that line.
6. Royal Gorge train from Canyon City to Parkdale. Rode the open car and had a great time. Picked up the book "Rails thru the Gorge" by Doris Osterwald. She is a railfan and geology teacher (retired?) and covers the history, geology, and operations quite well for $15.00 ... a value for 170 page softcover book.
7. Had hoped to explore the La Junta depot as I took the Chief out of there in 1966 but we made an executive decision not to spend the night in town, instead pushing to Lamar,co.
8. Great Bend, Ks seemed to be a hub for Kansas and Oklahoma RR. We passed thru town and 2 trains were working. I grabbed a quick photo of one. There is also an old coal tower and a Santa Fe depot....sure wish I would have taken 15 minutes for more exploration and photos.
A great vacation with a few trains and a super highlight...Royal Gorge ride. Thanks to all for suggestions.
We took the 330pm Royal Gorge train this afternoon (sold out of coach) and it was well worth the $39 per person fare and the 2 hours. I rode the open air car almost the entire ride, despite light rain at times. One marvels at the engineering involved with not only the track, but also the water line.
Water rights in Colorado intrigue me, perhaps due to the abundance of rainfall in the midwest. The systems of ditches and diversions in place are nearly as interesting as rail ROWs.
Coming down from Salida the old DRGW Tennessee Pass line was in view nearly at all times. The long grade from Canon City up to Tennessee Pass (elevation 5300 to about 10,200) seems incredible to this flatlander.
Was the eastbound grade 3%? If so, that certainly explains the reason those coal trains do not use that line (along with selling of UP line east of Pueblo).
All in all it was a great trip and we are now heading back home. Lots of great scenery and a few trains in the state of Colorado.
Thanks to all for suggestions.
Rock & Rail (RRRR) is still active ... train goes to Drennan Industrial Park (Colorado Springs & returns)....Power, when not loading at Parkdale is usually found at either Portland (think CO-120 at the Arkansas River bridge - the cement plant smokestack is the first thing you see...CO-115 or CO-67 south of US50 will get you down there)....The Uranium & Zinc Cleanup on the Rockvale Branch (Cotter Corp Uranium Mill) is largely complete...little goes up this very old ATSF coal branch anymore...
There is a quarry in Parkdale at the W end of the Gorge. I believe the freight operation is called Rock and Rail. There is also an environmental clean-up project south of Canon City with rail service. Not sure if either is still active.
This morning a loaded coal train headed west on the branch. I was able to catch up with it at Hotchkiss. Interesting train with a mixture of UP, Rio Grande, and Missouri Pacific hopper.
Next will be the Royal Gorge line in Canon City, possibly tomorrow.
Are there any freights on that line? I hear rumors of "rock trains".
I will provide a little field trip.
We arrived in Colorado July 3rd and stayed at YMCA of Rockies a couple of nights then headed to Granby and on to Kremmling. US 40 between Granby and Kremmling offers a great canyon view of the UP and Colorado River. Unfortunately there were no trains as we passed thru. An EB BNSF passed by while we were having breakfast (Chuck Wagon outside of Granby....great Country Fried Steak and gravy breakfast) and an EB UP coal train passed while we approached Kremmling. Meanwhile clouds had moved in, so I didnt chase it back to the canyon.
Went to Gore Canyon between Kremmling and State Bridge to await the WB California Zephyr but it was over 2 hours late and clouds turned to rain.
Drove from Minturn to Leadville and was awed by the Tennessee Pass route of the UP (Rio Grande). The tracks and signals are still in place. If trains ever run that route I will be back. After flyfishing in Leadville yesterday, we drove across Independence Pass and settled in Paonia for the night. There are 3 coal mines on a UP branch, but only one is active. Hopefully today I see a train.
Mudchicken...the Black Bridge Winery was an excellent recommendation. We loved it and picked up a couple of bottles. Today we tour the orchards and wineries.
1] Don't miss The Colorado RR Museum west of Denver at Golden CO.
2] Either or both the Cumbres or the Durango-Silverton railroads are spectacular. Re the Cumbres, the leg from Cumbres NM to the midpoint is usually an impressive double-header. Re Dur-Sil I recommend paying the bucks to take the last car, and in that car get the last seats closest to the observation platform. Memorable.
3] On the Moffat route, the gravel road off the state highway to the tunnel has several fine picnic spots with a mountain stream running by and the rr tracks on the other side. Lovely way to spend midday.
4] An enjoyable day trip on Amtrak is Denver to Glenwood Springs in the morning, returning to Denver that afternoon. One can take hot springs in GS.
When you go through Kansas, get off the interstates and take the smaller highways and if you have the time and are adventurous, get on some country roads and explore -- just be sure to start out with a full tank of gas. Kansas is NOT a pass-through or fly-over state. And we also have trains.....
mudchicken MP173 We really do not plan on spending much time in Denver, more so out and about in the mountain areas. We do plan on going to Alamosa to the RioGrande Scenic. Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site. Ed MP173 We really do not plan on spending much time in Denver, more so out and about in the mountain areas. We do plan on going to Alamosa to the RioGrande Scenic. Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site. Ed MP173 Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site. Ed Royal Gorge RR (tourist, RGCX) and Rock & Rail (freight, RRRR) both in the gorge. The gorge is still healing up from the fires and is greening-up. Both railroads end at Parkdale on the west end of the gorge. Dormant from that point west. Right now, traffic west of the front range is really light. Flying in, #5 or Driving in? ...You're already ahead knowing the east half of Colorado is flat, there is much more to CO than Denver and you are willing to get off the main drags. The water in the high country is really up right now. Ruxton Hill, Palmer Lake, Golden, Glenwood Canyon (avoid Glenwood Springs), Tin Cup, Gunnison, Gore Canyon, Gallinas, Portland, Pueblo Jcn., Utah Jcn, Lunch at Guiseppe's in Colorado Springs, Windsor, Fox Junction, Plum Creek, Loveland, Silver Plume, Delta, (avoid Last Chance or Punkin Center), Silverton, Leadville
MP173 We really do not plan on spending much time in Denver, more so out and about in the mountain areas. We do plan on going to Alamosa to the RioGrande Scenic. Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site. Ed
We really do not plan on spending much time in Denver, more so out and about in the mountain areas. We do plan on going to Alamosa to the RioGrande Scenic.
Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site.
MP173 Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site. Ed
Is the line thru the Royal Gorge still in operation for either freight or tourist? My family went there in 1964 (I was 9) and it was quite a site. Ed
Royal Gorge RR (tourist, RGCX) and Rock & Rail (freight, RRRR) both in the gorge. The gorge is still healing up from the fires and is greening-up. Both railroads end at Parkdale on the west end of the gorge. Dormant from that point west.
Right now, traffic west of the front range is really light.
Flying in, #5 or Driving in? ...You're already ahead knowing the east half of Colorado is flat, there is much more to CO than Denver and you are willing to get off the main drags. The water in the high country is really up right now.
Ruxton Hill, Palmer Lake, Golden, Glenwood Canyon (avoid Glenwood Springs), Tin Cup, Gunnison, Gore Canyon, Gallinas, Portland, Pueblo Jcn., Utah Jcn, Lunch at Guiseppe's in Colorado Springs, Windsor, Fox Junction, Plum Creek, Loveland, Silver Plume, Delta, (avoid Last Chance or Punkin Center), Silverton, Leadville
Some good advice, except Guiseppe's restaurant (in the old DRGW depot) in Colorado Springs is now closed.
It was UP last fall. Sorry I don't know how often they run. There are good spots to watch along the Gunnison river after they leave Delta, Co.
Paonia is on the North Fork branch, served out of Grand Junction via Delta. (check out the Black Bridge winery of CO-133, the sweet corn and the peaches... two of the three working coal mines on the branch are idle right now, traffic is down.)
What scanner frequencies are used on the UP on the Moffet route?Ed
Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs is very ineresting. Run many steam powered machines on compressed air. Don't miss it.
H
Thanks....do you know frequency of the trains or operator (UP perhaps)?Ed
I believe you mean Paonia, Colorado. It being used for coal trains.
Anyone know what the line thru Paoni, Colorado is used for?At one time it was a Rio Grande branch.
We usuall go to Colorado one way and come back the other way (I-70/80), although a couple of years ago we came back by US 50, so I can second MC on that (although we went all the way along the old ATSF, Pueblo to Emporia/KC, overnighting in Newton). If you go out I-70, going past Vail to US 24, you can follow the Tennessee Pass line to Leadville. Part of the UP ex-DRGW Leadville branch is now a bike trail. All this, plus the Leadville tourist line could disappear at any time, so I would not put it off.
MP173 Paul:I found those two in Trains, but there is another massive photo article Mark penned in another magazine. I will find it (downstairs in a box). It was probably 20 pages with WOW photography. Ed
Paul:I found those two in Trains, but there is another massive photo article Mark penned in another magazine. I will find it (downstairs in a box). It was probably 20 pages with WOW photography.
Johnny
MP173 [snipped - PDN] . . . BTW, Mark Hemphill wrote an article in another magazine on the Tennessee Pass line...does anyone know which magazine it was?
- Paul North.
The weedsprayer has done its thing for the first round....nothing running between Parkdale & Gypsum. Colorado Leadville & Southern (Climax Br.)hanging on barely, is cut off by CDOT (not UP) in Leadville (x-ing paved under US-24, the town is following suit)
Avoid I-70 in MO if you can - it's a sorry mess. Come back thru La Junta on US-50 and continue east to Garden City, Up KS-156 to Ellsworth/ I-70 to Topeka and North on US-75 to either US-36 or I-80 (Marysville, KS is a busy UP hub)
Can recommend an excellent B&B north of Durango (our favorite) or at Gunnison.
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