Trainstar: Guide to Temporary Train Station

What changed at this year's Cheyenne Frontier Days Special (here/there) was the location where passengers boarded, near the temporary Amtrak station. Helen Bushnell, blogger for Train Star, completed a very helpful guide to Denver's Temporary Train Station, in place for the duration of DUSPA's remodeling of Union Station, due to end in 2014. She's put together a fairly decent travel guide in her post. Of note, she pays attention to details that are meaningful to most, including the disabled and the folks that are onboard and jumping off to grab a few items at the nearest convenience store. Thanks, Ms. Bushnell, for helping folks Travel by Train. If anyone is still looking for official information, here's the best available directions ^(PDF) and the site.

POTD - Photo of the Day Debut

Today, we start a new format for POTD, Photo Of The Day. The purpose of POTD is, lest we forget, to give photographers more exposure and to get them noticed. There is no commercial interest driving this feature, just a love of the art. All clicks on the photo will be directed to the photographer's hosting site whenever possible.

The first Photo of the Day for the new format is a personal favorite. I was present at the unveiling of the Union Pacific's Heritage fleet's tribute to the Denver & Rio Grande Western, SD-70ACe UP 1989. Kevin Morgan was also there, and I'll admit, his skills--and camera--are better than mine.

UP SD70ACe 1989 on June 17, 2006 at the Union Pacific equipment yard
Photo Kevin Morgan

Reader Poll Results

The poll has closed and we have our results! Of those voting on location, Here on this blog took all the votes. I'm glad, because starting up blogs is a headache. Of those voting on length and frequency it was pretty much split down the middle. With 43% of the voters picking weekly with deeper coverage and 57% picking daily and short, I might try mixing it up with deep and weekly one week and short, quick and daily the next. I'm not completely certain.

What is certain is that Picture of the Day will start on this blog on Monday. See you then!

Cheyenne Frontier Days Winds Down

UP 4-8-4 #844 and Centennial DD40X
#6936 in Cheyenne, photo: UP

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Special has just about wrapped up its runs for 2011. They are heading south on their final run of the final day as I write. The last run is scheduled to leave Denver tomorrow at 1 p.m. for an arrival at UP Steam's headquarters in Cheyenne at 6:00 p.m. It is the first Cheyenne Frontier Days train since the tradition restarted in 1992 to run without the oversight and steady hand of Steve Lee, recently retired.

Steam-to-steam Transfers On Wednesdays Until August 17th

Here's a video from 2008 when the steam-to-steam transfer at Antonito was quietly tried out using a caboose to take riders into Alamosa.

Valuable Model Railroad Damaged In Union Station Floods

The HO-scale Platte Valley & Western model railroad and the O-scale Colorado Midland model railroad, both located in the basement of Union Station, were flooded earlier this month. While only a few inches, the flood caused damage to electrical equipment of the Platte Valley & Western as well as damage to display materials stored in a closet.

Hear That Whistle Blow

One of the more interesting groups of railfans are the ones that are into locomotive whistles and horns, the signaling devices used by engineers to communicate and warn the world outside his cab of what he's doing. An entire industry has grown around a collection of railfans who collect and, at times, sound off their affection for trains.

Happy 4th and Talk About Picture of the Day

Old Glory as it was July 4, 1877
the first Independence Day after
Colorado joined the Union

First, Happy Fourth of July to everyone! Have a great holiday and a safe return home.

Next, just a quick note about the POTD and it's status around here. Most of you haven't noticed the periodic absence or graciously ignored the gaps. Really, it's not me. No, really. It's not. Here's the story.

Cumbres & Toltec Serving Up A Hot Fourth of July

If you have not made any solid plans for next weekend's Fourth of July festivities, consider heading down to the Cumbres & Toltec for a weekend that promises to be unforgettable. They have a full plate of Independence Day activities. A photo from last year's celebration found itself on the back inside cover of Trains Magazine. If you need any more encouragement to go, read on!

Model Commuter Rail Car Closes After Extended Stay

As of 2 p.m. today, the full-scale model of the commuter train that Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD) has had on public display for five weeks at Denver Union Station has finally closed. The model depicts the front third of an actual 85-foot commuter rail car. On Monday, a crew will lift the 10,700-pound unit onto a trailer for transport to a storage facility. The model was placed on display for the public to give feedback on the planned interior design of Denver's commuter rail cars.

California Zephyr Crash in Nevada

All the details have yet to emerge, but a semi collided with Amtrak's California Zephyr in Lovelock, Nevada.

New Railroad Construction In Denver

It's always a good sign when your friendly neighborhood railroad, usually BNSF or Union Pacific west of Chicago, starts adding capacity in your region. It could be a second main line between two points only a few miles apart, or it could be a third or (wow!) fourth main for 20 miles or more. After a century of contraction and abandoned routes, railroads are cautiously upgrading and adding rail routes.

Highball! First Run of Passengers Over Lobato Trestle From Chama To Osier

It is all over the narrow gauge world out there this morning that Lobato Trestle on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic is finally back in service! While there were photos and videos of the trestle with the C&TS diesel switcher and a MOW car with ballast for the abutments, there was no official word when the trestle will be ready for daily service with the two regular trains ...until suddenly yesterday morning when a train loaded up and quietly left Chama, full of passengers.

Copper Thieves Nabbed After Moffat Route Spree

Brothers Gerald and Donald Furrer are caught near Parshall, Colorado, after a month of purportedly stealing cable off the Union Pacific's (ex-Rio Grande, D&SL) Moffat Route. Grand County Sheriff's Deputies nabbed the men after they hid by using a thermal imaging camera. Nathan Holmes has the story at DRGW.net.

New Icons

It's amazing what consumes a blogger's time. I spent most of my useful time today on one--just one!--silly icon. Nevermind that the other three took almost as much time. Icons ...that you might notice. You might even click on them.

Durango Looks Great This Summer

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, headquartered in Durango, Colorado, is offering a rare deal for vacationers this summer and has several events planned. Durango, a town that's never really shed it's wild west image, is an amazing place to fall in love with narrow gauge, steam railroading. It's worth the travel time to get there, and if you're really brave, you'll bring your camera but leave your laptop and smartphone charging at home. Unplugging with only a hotel phone for emergencies may be the 2011 way of "roughing it," for some folks. I know that for me, doing so would certainly add to the old west, frontier feel!

Lobato Trestle Nearly Complete - Planned Opening Prior To Season Start

Important: See update at end of post

Chama is back!

The Lobato trestle is nearly completed and is projected to open mid-week, only days before opening weekend. Once in place, trains will once again roll from Antonito to Chama and back again, without having to halt progress at Cumbres Pass.

DUSPA To Resume Walking Tours This Summer

From the semi-autonomous Denver Union Station Project Authority's newsletter for May 2011,

The Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) once again will be conducting free walking tours of the Denver Union Station redevelopment site this summer. The tours will be held at 4:30 p.m., starting on Thursday, May 19, 2011, and continuing on the first and third Thursdays of the month through September. The one-hour tour will depart from the main entrance of the historic station on Wynkoop Street.

Volunteers Needed This Weekend

Colorado Railroads just received an urgent appeal for volunteers this Saturday for a steam-up at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Here it is:

Looking for volunteers to help with parking for our "Bunny Express" Saturday. We are anticipating need for overflow parking for this annual and very popular event at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Help!!!!

Donald Tallman
Executive Director

If you're in the Denver area on Saturday and need an excuse to go to the Colorado Railroad Museum for the day, this is about as good as they get. Giving time to the museum is an easy and cheap way to show your support for Colorado's railroad history. Contact Donald Tallman via Facebook, or contact the museum directly at 303-279-4591 or 800-365-6263.

Announcing Photo of the Day

Rio Grande narrow-gauge #475 crosses the road's
namesake in Otawi NM by Otto Perry, DPL

Railroad photography is an art that I wholeheartedly support here on Colorado Railroads. Photographers like O. Winston Link and Colorado's own Otto Perry not only preserved history with their work, but also elevated such preservation to an art form. Countless more railfans aspire to have their work so regarded.

Rio Grande's Last Decades Still Survive On the Web

A lot of us, some of us still in our thirties, still remember the latter days of the Rio Grande with fondness. In the era of SD-70ACe's and smarter FREDs, it's possible to recall the days of GP-30s and cabooses (cabeese?). These days, however, it helps to have something to refresh our own memories.

You've Got CR In the Palm Of Your Hand

If you have an iPhone or Droid or any other mobile browser, you should be viewing the site in the new mobile version. If you're not, change your CR bookmark to the new url and enjoy Colorado Railroads without squinting or scrolling like mad. But if you're driving (whether a locomotive or otherwise), put the thing down and drive! Arrive alive, you know?

Now, if only I could get it to tell you about the railroads where you are right this moment! That's actually something I'm working on.

Friends Bring $121K Check For Lobato Trestle

The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a volunteer support organization that works to preserve the rolling stock and most of the equipment of the Cumbres & Toltec. Last year on June 24th, the trestle at Lobato burned in a spectacular nighttime blaze. No one was injured, and the investigators have ruled out arson. Even while the embers were cooling , the Friends have taken on the work of soliciting donations for the rebuild, hopefully in time to restore service from Chama this coming season, which starts May 28th.

Video of Steve Lee's Presentation In Hugo

Have you ever wondered what it takes to field a modern day, main line steam program? Steve Lee, recently retired, is the most experienced at the complexities of Union Pacific's Steam Program. His commentary and photos from his 22 years as head of the program were given as part of the meeting Sunday for the Hugo Roundhouse preservation group.

Steve Lee, Jim Burrill Presentation On UP Steam On Sunday In Hugo

Recently retired UP Steam program head, Steve Lee and Jim Burrill, self-admitted Steam Geek for Union Pacific, plan to give a presentation on the Union Pacific this Sunday in Hugo, Colorado. It is part of an annual meeting of the Roundhouse Preservation group, but the meeting is open to the public and "any interested person is welcome."

Worth noting, the roundhouse in Hugo is one of four remaining roundhouses in Colorado, and the only brick constructed roundhouse in the state. The preservation group began work in 2003 and appear to have made steady progress.

Officer Special On the Joint Line

Prolific videographer Carlos Ferran, whose channel on YouTube, trainsruleandroll, is a shrine to all things Rio Grande, has yet another video (HD) that I can't pass up without passing along. He's got a good eye for railroad photography, and he keeps his finger on the pulse of the Joint Line.




I'll conclude this post by explaining what an officer special is and what the Joint Line is.

Denver Train Show In February 2011

The Great Train Expo makes its appearance again on February 26th and 27th at the National Western Complex at 4655 Humboldt Street in Denver.


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No More Google Ads, No More Ads Period

There is a change coming to corailroads.com within the next day or so. It's with a bit of relief that I'm taking the ads down. A for-profit site puts me in a different realm, legally, than I want to be. Most importantly, I've always loved railroads and no one has to pay me to do this. So, enjoy the ads while they last, if you really do appreciate ads in this era of media saturation. For the rest of us, the eyesores will soon depart.

As always, thanks for reading!

Cold Weather Can Cripple Railroads

With the temperature at 15 degrees below zero outside and the winds at 20 MPH, we had a wind chill near 42 below last week! It got me to thinking,  we all know how Colorado's snow can snarl a railroad, but what cold weather problems can railroaders face? Aside from the obvious frostbite, which can occur in as little as 5 minutes in these conditions, what else can extreme cold do to make work on a railroad even more difficult and strenuous?

Skitching In Silverton

So, it's the day after Christmas. The presents are all open and you're getting through the annual post-Christmas hangover. Depending on your weather, it could be 70 degrees and gorgeous or 20 below, gray and ugly! If that's your lot this Sunday, what to do? If you've got a model layout to work on and materials to use, you're all set. If modeling's not your thing, there's always DVDs and YouTube.

Rio Grande Reading For A Sunday Afternoon

For the folks that aren't able to make it to the train show this weekend, or who, like me, went but can't get enough of trains and railroads, I've found a couple of articles for interesting reading. Mark Oehlert is a painter, writer, and artist whose interest in the Rocky Mountains is more than a passing thing. He's put two articles up on Suite101.com that, if a bit romantic, still paint a good picture of the Rio Grande. His Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad History and Origin and Demise of a Railroad Legend: The California Zephyr might be enough to sate you, or they may just whet your appetite for more! Good Sunday afternoon reading, regardless!

Great Train Expo In Denver This Weekend

Due to a glitch, I just found out that the events calendar was missing a very important date. I fixed the glitch, but just in case you missed it, here's the announcement:

The Great Train Expo will be in Denver, Colorado this weekend. One of the larger train shows in the Rocky Mountain region, the expo will have vendors selling all things rail related, especially model railroads, as well as modular clubs in scales G, O, HO, N and Z, all showing their latest builds and acquisitions. Combine it with a trip to Caboose Hobbies, and you've got a high chance of getting what you're looking for.

New Mexico Antes Up For Lobato Repairs, Could Complete By Opening Day 2011

The Lobato Trestle on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which burned in a fire in late June, could possibly be back in service by next season's opening day! Long time New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson directed the state's Department of Transportation to direct $1.2 Million in federal funds toward the trestle reconstruction.

Lobato Trestle Op-Ed in ABQ Journal

Bill Hume, board member of the C&TS Railroad Management Company wrote an Op-Ed piece for the Albuquerque Journal regarding the Lobato Trestle rebuild project. In it, he covers the history of the actions taken since the fire in June.  Of note:

Firemen School on the C&TS

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad continues their school for different roles on steam operated freight trains. This week, they've got 6 firemen students training. The video is from Monday where they spent half the day in the classroom and half the day making up the train they planned to use on Tuesday.

Featured Photographer - Gary Morris

Aside from the photo aggregate sites like  railpictures.net and rrpicturearchives.net, it's hard to find photographers with high-quality railroad photographs of the 60s, 70s and 80s in Colorado. That's why I got a bit excited when I found Gary Morris' site and his section on the Rio Grande Railroad earlier this summer. He's got his collection organized in HTML by railroad, but you can still find a few BN and UP shots in Denver if you dig for them.

Fall Colors Approaching Their Peak In Southern Colorado

It's September, and that means the fall aspen colors are making their annual appearance in the high country. Usually they are in evidence the first week after Labor Day in the north of the state to as late as the first or second week of October in the far south near New Mexico. I say usually because there is no sure fire way to predict how the aspens will change. Sometimes they peak in color quickly, in what seems like a few days. Other times, the peak is more than a week in some areas. By peak, I mean that the traces of green in the leaves are almost totally gone but all or nearly all of the leaves are still on the trees. Some years, there isn't a peak, and that's depressing!

Crash on Pikes Peak Tangles Operations Over Cog Wheel Route Friday

A helicopter crashed on Pikes Peak on early Friday morning, with all four aboard injured but alive. The debris field closed the Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway, also known as the Cog Wheel Route, along with the toll road running from Cascade to the summit. The four passengers were treated and released from the hospital in nearby Colorado Springs. The railway still operated trains on a shortened route and restored service to the summit house today. The toll road is also re-opened.

You Forgot Your What!?

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad recently completed Railfest 2010, and the fans have some pretty unique souvenirs for their money. I found this picture while browsing their Railfest photo gallery. I've seen worse, but I think most folks would agree that when a person is giving a whistle demonstration at said Railfest, it's important--nay, crucial that they bring adequate ear protection. Regardless, the show, or the demonstration, must go on.

Trains Magazine Features Colorado's Distributed Power

I got my October issue of Trains on Saturday. Did you?

Trains Sept 2010

The September 2010 issue of Trains Magazine features diesel engines using distributed power in Colorado. The cover  boasts, "Ultimate Motive Power, 6 Locomotives [under] 1 Engineer, How distributed power changed the way railroads run big trains." The main article by David Lustig features a double page spread of the Moffat Route through Little Gore Canyon to start the article, another from the Front Range sub north of Palmer Lake, and yet another from the west of Denver above the Big Ten Curve west of Clay, Colorado, which is also where the cover was shot (see at left).

Tiny Town Railroad Derailment

Seldom does a tourist railroad lead the nightly newscast for something other than a major disaster, a miniature railroad doubly so. Wednesday, August 11th, a morning train making it's trip around the 15-inch gauge Tiny Town railroad was northbound along the roadway through South Turkey Creek Canyon toward the northern end of the park with 30 passengers aboard. Heading into a curve, the train derailed, spilling the 2-6-0 live steam engine #10 and ending with five of the six cars on the ground. The last car was a caboose loaded with children.

New Cumbres TV Spot Released to Air

The Cumbres & Toltec has a new TV spot that just made it on their YouTube channel.   Docent and long-time C&TS supporter, Rich Muth introduces himeself and invites everyone out for a trip. Did he say something about discounted rates?




Visit www.cumbrestoltec.com for information and tickets.

UP 844 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train west of Cheyenne at 540pm

It's not even Monday and I already have good video of UP's 844 on the front of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Special that ran this weekend. Watch for the Wyoming state capitol in the background.



Way to go, Skip Weythman! Thanks for some great footage! I also liked the pacing shot.

By the way folks, the CFD special means that the height of summer is upon us. Have you gotten out to your favorite spot yet?

Tunnel Motor Spared For Colorado Railroad Museum

The yard at Denver's Burnham shops have seen more than a few engines these days as Union Pacific held an auction of more than 50 units on July 14, 2010. Earlier in the month,  a request came in from the Colorado Railroad Museum. Would it be possible, they asked, for UP to donate unit UP 9871?  Within hours, UP said yes!

Photos of UP 844 In Milliken

Kimm Wierema, who lives with a family of railfans, managed to capture some really nice photos of UP 844 on its visit to Milliken, Colorado. The last-purchased, never-retired steam locomotive of the Union Pacific was on hand on June 26th to help the City of Milliken celebrate its centennial this year.

The Great Train Expo

November 6 & 7, 2010 - Denver 
The Great Train Expo returns to Denver's National Western Complex at 4655 Humboldt Street on November 6th & 7th, 2010, for their fall show. This is a large event that pulls in exhibitors and hobby shops from several states around the Rocky Mountain region. Model railroad clubs will be there with their modular layouts. The doors will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission for adults is $7 at the door with kids under 12 free with an adult. .

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Pictures from January's show in Colorado Springs

Grand Junction Regional Swap Meet

September 11, 2010 - Grand Junction 

This September, the Western Slope has a swap meet scheduled for September 11th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 5th Street and White Avenue in downtown Grand Junction. Free parking is on east side of c the church. Amission $2 for adults, children under 12 admitted free. Tables cost $5, second table $4 and three tables for $12. Set up starts at 8 am. Interested parties call Robert at (970) 254-8606. 

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Lionel Collectors Club of America Convention Show Open To Public

July 31, 2010 - Denver

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) returns to Denver this year with it's national convention at the end of this month. While most of the events are open only to members, they do make their private train show open to the public on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Adults $5 each  Under 18 free with paying adult. The convention and the show are held at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.  

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Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society Convention

There are a few more train shows still coming this year. Most of the shows will be in Denver, except where noted. I will be breaking them up into individual posts so that any comments will be specific for the event.

Here we go for the second half of the year:

July 21-25, 2010, Denver 

The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society will be hosting it's international convention next week Wednesday  through Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel, Denver near the old Stapleton airport at 32nd Ave (MLK) and Quebec. This mulit-day conference is aimed at the serious Santa Fe fan. It will be themed around the Colorado Flyer, a premier passenger train between Chicago and Denver in the 1930’s.  The group will also be featuring the Royal Gorge war, a bloodless war in the 1880s between the Santa Fe and Denver and Rio Grande.  

As it says on their site, you don't have to be a member to attend. The cost of the convention this year will be $130.00. This includes clinics, contests, displays, banquet and Sunday breakfast, a pin, and a patch. Extra banquet tickets are $45.00, extra breakfast tickets are $25.00. For reservations and further information, visit their site. 

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Cumbres & Toltec Buses Passengers Between Chama & Cumbres

At last, there is good news from Chama! Because of the fire at the Lobato Trestle, the 40th anniversary season of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was under a significant cloud of doubt. Now, the operational shuffle by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad appears to be over for the time being.