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[Anonymous]

I am spending a few days at Steamboat in July and coming from UK I have no idea of the nearest railroad. Nor what I might see or how often.

I shall be grateful for any advice please.

[nanaimo73]

Do you mean Steamboat Springs ?
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=14&x=107&y=1400&z=13&w=1&qs=%7csteamboat+springs%7c%7c
You will see Union Pacific coal train there on the former Denver and Rio Grande Western's Craig Branch.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=19693

To the south is Oak Creek
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=200735
and Phillipsburg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=19461

[Anonymous]

Dale, Thanks for your help!
Yes, Steamboat Springs.
Bill

[gbrewer]

Bill,

Don't miss Dave Moffatt's private car Marcia in nearby Craig if you get a chance (1906).

Glen

[ndbprr]

the only railroad in town is the old D&RG maimline between Denver and Salt Lake City. When i was there in the 80's skiing there were frequent coal trains and of course the Denver Zephyr. Since the merger I have no idea of train volume. Don't know how you are going to get there but Colorado is loaded with narrow gauge relics and a couple of tourist lines including the Goergetown loop right off I-70 but probably not on the way to Steamboat. Easiest route from Denver is over Rabbit Ears pass a relatively easy one.

[ndbprr]

Ok I was wrong. That was Winter Park where I was on the main at Moffat Tunnel. When I was at Steamboat the only thing running there were coal trains (or was I wrong about that too?).

[Anonymous]

Steamboat Springs is along the UP Craig Branch. I'd guess about 6-8 trains a day go through there, all coal except for a local which runs from Denver to Craig once a week.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all for the information. Presumably coal trains run to a regular timetable. Is this known? Or do they run as required?

[nanaimo73]

Coal trains usually shuttle back and forth between the mines and the power plants (which could be over 1000 miles away) on an irregular schedule. Very few freight trains in North America run on a timetable.
Will you have access to a car while in Colorado ?
50 miles to the south in Kremmling you would see a lot more freight trains, and Amtrak's California Zephyr.

[Anonymous]

I might have access to a car.