RGX 2012 - Trip Report
June 14 - June 23
Day 2 - Friday, June 15
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Day 2 dawned early and I hit the ground running. On our first trip in 2006 we missed out on riding the Georgetown Loop. It was my intention NOT to repeat that SNAFU.
On the way over to Silver Plume, I stopped at Black Hawk for a quick look around. As always, there wasn't enough time for a full exploration of the area. I need to return to Black Hawk!
Please let me know if you find mistakes - RioGrandeDude @ SmittysHouse.net
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C&S #71 in Black Hawk |
Arriving in Silver Plume |
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GTL #12 simmers quietly |
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GTL #1203 took the first train of the day down the mountain |
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I got off at the Lebanon Mine for the tour |
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Old rail used to reinforce the ceiling inside the mine |
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DUAL Narrow Gauge Rails |
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Near the current end of the open section of the mine, our tour guide turned off the lights to give us an idea of just how dark dark can be. It was pretty mind-blowing. |
It's hard to see in the photos, but these are petrified footprints of the last miners in the mine in the 1970's |
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Several shots of the mine area |
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Check out the rock work that was constructed when the railroad was built in 1877 |
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GTL #12 came down with the 2nd train of the day and I hopped aboard to continue the trip to Devils' Gate |
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Hall's Tunnel - MP 52.3 |
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Looking west towards Georgetown, Golden, & Denver |
MOW Spur just (railroad) east of the High Bridge
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Devils' Gate Depot - MP 51.1 |
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#12 & #1203 combined forces to haul the train back up the hill to Silver Plume |
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MOW Spur near the Devil's Gate bridge |
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Looking east towards Silver Plume |
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Hall's Tunnel - MP 52.3 |
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The yellow box coaches came from the Cumbres & Toltec |
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Clear Creek |
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Arriving back in Silver Plume - MP 53.9 |
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Inside the car storage shed in Silver Plume |
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Shay #9 was nearing completion. I'll have to return to see her run. |
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On the trip back to Golden I stopped in Idaho Springs to find C&S #60. After several orbits around town I stopped at a gas station and was ASSURED by the attendant that there was no steam locomotive in town and that no railroad ran to Idaho Springs. I tried to explain, then gave up, thanked him and continued my search. 10 minutes later I found what I was seeking. |
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Interior of C&S Coach #70 |
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Back in Golden, I made my way to the Colorado Railroad Museum. This was only my second time to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth," but it felt like I was returning home. I quickly parked and made my way to the Depot to get my VIP pass for the weekend. That done, I casually walked the hallowed grounds. The amount of work that has been accomplished since my last visit is astonishing. My hat's off to the CRM staff. |
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D&RGW #318. This locomotive made the final run to Ouray from Montrose in 1953.
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Bob Richardson collected the remaining station signs along the Marshal Pass line as the rails were removed in 1955, including this one from Poncha Junction, near Salida. |
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Colorado & Northwestern #30 became Denver, Boulder, & Western #30 after the C&N went bankrupt. CB&W #30 later became Colorado & Southern #74 after another bankruptcy. Later, after the C&S gave up the ghost, she became Rio Grande Southern #74. And, once the RGS called it quits, the City of Boulder bought her. The CRM recently acquired the locomotive from the City of Boulder and she's been cosmetically restored to the original C&N #30. |
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DSP&P #191 |
RGS Business Car "Rico" |
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Inside the Rico |
Golden Native |
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D&RGW #5771 & C&S Rotary Snowplow #99201 |
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Goose #2 |
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Goose #7 |
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The newly restored Goose #4 from Telluride & Ridgway |
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Prior to the evening photo shoot, the Museum hosted a rockin' BBQ dinner in the depot. This was for the VIP Pass holders. The food was great. The company was equally good and I got to meet several people from the NGDF. There were also several old friends. It was a good night. |
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The nearly full flock of Geese. Only #3 is missing. |
The Mars Light on #5771 is turned on. See video below: |
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While waiting for darkness to arrive and the night photo shoot to begin, we used the time to get some video of the Mars Light on #5771. I haven't seen one of these since I was a kid. |
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Night arrived and the cameras went to work |
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At the museum I met up with Barry and Blake Bogs from Spring, Texas. Barry is a Master Model Railroader and built the incredible Colorado & Western Railroad in his home. His son, Blake, is quite a modeler in own right. It was great to see some friends from home up in Narrow Gauge Country. I also met up with old friends Steve Forney and Sam Seiber. |
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