Hello all, Visiting Denver 3/29-4/1 for Predators/Avalanche game Sat afternoon.
We will have rental car. Can anyone tell me railroad places to visit? Fri pm, Sat before and after game,
all Sun and Mon am available.
Prototype, museums, model shops, shows if any, etc. my son and I thank you much.
steve
Forney Transportation Museum and Caboose Hobbies in Denver (they’ll have other local information) and the Colorado Railroad Museum just west, at Golden. Probably too early in the year for much at the Georgetown Loop RR at Georgetown.
Go to Denver Union Station. It’s downtown right near the Pepsi Center.
Go downstairs, they two model layouts that are crazy huge, very cool stuff.
If you’re AT ALL into airplanes – the Museum of the Air Force at (formerly) Lowry AFB.
“Big ten curve”, if you can figure out how to get at it.
Michael,
It’s info that’s a few months old, but I remember reading a message on the Rio Grande Yahoo list that, due to construction in Union Station, access to at least one of these clubs was going to be cut-off for some time and thus closed for a year or so. IIRC, it was just one of these two layouts, but just thought I’d throw that out there. Maybe someone has the details and can clarify?
In any case, I’d still encourage the OP dropping by the area to see what there is to see around Union Station. Things have changed a lot down there in recent years – and are still changing – but the trains are still there.
You may also want to park there and ride the the extensive city light rail network a bit just for cheap thrills.
You can also trace the old Rio Grande south from the station – Caboose Hobbies is that way, so you can kill two birds with one stone – and eventually get a light rail stop that is adjacent to the old Burnham shops facility. The neighborhood was less than suburban when I was there last a decade ago, but it should be worth a look see, as there are plenty of interesting things that can be seen through the chainlink fences.
While the Georgetown Loop is probably out of season, a drive up I-70 into the mountains is well worth it for the scenery in general – and you can drive right by the Loop. You can choose how far into the mountains you have time for, then return, but going out or coming back, definitely cut across the two-lane from I-70 and get to Golden for the Colorado RR Museum. If you like trains, I recommend at least a half day, although you can still see a lot in two hours. Great book/gift shop, too.
Oh, also up towards Golden, but not so far outta town is a steakhouse famous for cutting the neckties of unsuspecting greenhorns off who happen to eat there and nailing it to the wall. Beats hanging, though, and the food is great. Can’t remember the name, but I’m sure someone will.
Mike,
I didn’t even know they started doing the all new construction on Union Station. I haven’t been there in a while. But I’ve seen the plans, and wow, when finished it will be awesome looking. It will be an entire transportation hub, while still keeping the building, which is an historic preserved site.
if you have time north of denver is the greeley freight museum give them a call
http://www.gfsm.org/pcindex.html
jeff
Folks have already mentioned some of the top RR sites. It’s not RR related, but the Denver Museum of Natural History is top notch. Also, if you want to spend a day on trip, Royal Gorge is only about three hours away. Even though the D&RG is no more, the bridge needs to be on a bucket list.
If you aren’t familiar with Colorado, don’t get led astry into following a road because it was built on a former narrow gauge route. The pavement disappears pretty quick and you’re on a jeep trail with no place to turn around.
We moved to Tennesse from Colorado about 12 years ago, but still miss it.
Nope don’t go there. Our club is shut down (as is all of Union Station) for a complete renovation of the facility. We (members) cannot even get into the club layout.
In my opinion, besides Caboose Hobbies this is now the Denver area “must see” for model trains. The hours on Friday and Saturday are 10-4. Sundays now 1-4. If one goes to Greeley on highway 85 it parallels the UP tracks all the way up.
It is basically an hour north of Denver.
There is so much to see here…
Golden Railroad Museum -
Forney Transportation Museum
Burnam Shops
BNSF 23rd street shops
D&RGW North Yard
Going south on I-25 one can more or less follow the joint line all the way to Pueblo.
Coal Creek Canyon.
Wonder if it’s the same as Pinacle Peak in Alta Loma, CA. Greatest steaks since in TX, and watching those unsuspecting ones getting the ties chopped off is a blast!
Bob,
Nope not that one.
I did a little more searching and it looks like The Trail Dust has bit the dust:
http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2010/03/trail_dust_building_about_to_b.php
[:(]
Thanks so much for all your advice on our upcoming trip to Denver.
Maybe we should stay longer!
I was at a Pinacle Peak outside of Phoenix when my parents lived there.
Didn’t lose my tie but there were plenty on the wall. The steak was GREAT!
steve
[quote user=“mlehman”]
Michael,
It’s info that’s a few months old, but I remember reading a message on the Rio Grande Yahoo list that, due to construction in Union Station, access to at least one of these clubs was going to be cut-off for some time and thus closed for a year or so. IIRC, it was just one of these two layouts, but just thought I’d throw that out there. Maybe someone has the details and can clarify?
In any case, I’d still encourage the OP dropping by the area to see what there is to see around Union Station. Things have changed a lot down there in recent years – and are still changing – but the trains are still there.
You may also want to park there and ride the the extensive city light rail network a bit just for cheap thrills.
You can also trace the old Rio Grande south from the station – Caboose Hobbies is that way, so you can kill two birds with one stone – and eventually get a light rail stop that is adjacent to the old Burnham shops facility. The neighborhood was less than suburban when I was there last a decade ago, but it should be worth a look see, as there are plenty of interesting things that can be seen through the chainlink fences.
While the Georgetown Loop is probably out of season, a drive up I-70 into the mountains is well worth it for the scenery in general – and you can drive right by the Loop. You can choose how far into the mountains you have time for, then return, but going out or coming back, definitely cut across the two-lane from I-70 and get to Golden for the Colorado RR Museum. If you like trains, I recommend at least a half day, although you can still see a lot in two hours. Great book/gift shop, too.
Oh, also up towards Golden, but not so far outta town is a steakhouse famous for cutting the neckties of unsuspecting greenhorns off who happen to eat there and nailing it to the wall. Beats hanging, though, and the food is great. Can’t remember the name, but I’m sure someone will.
Tom,
I think you didn’t read down to my update. The Trail Dust is definitely gone, used for fire fighter practice in 2010, then the remains were bulldozed away.
It is missed. They had great Rocky Mountain Oysters.[+o(][*-)][swg]
Ahhh the famous Rocky Mountain Oysters! That is funny as hell.
For un-suspecting people, this is what we call Bull Balls.
If you go to the Colorado RR Museum, pick up highway 93 in Golden and follow it to highway 72. You will pass Big 10 curve on the left. After you turn onto 72, watch for a sign for Plainview. Follow the road up hill to the RR crossing. You can get great shots of eastound UP and BNSF trains with the Flatirons as a back drop. Park the car at the crossing and walk west just a bit.
If you’re inclined and the roads are okay, follow 72 up to Rollinsville for more Moffat Sub photos. Take a right off the highway at Rollinsville. Keep going and you’ll come to Tolland and more good photo locations. Go further and you’ll be at East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel.
Back to Denver, there is a good spot to see the Joint Line trains. If you visit Caboose Hobbies, get on Alameda westbound, take a right on Kalamath St. Go a bit up Kalamath to the RR crossing. Turn right into a parking lot just past the crossing. Lots of coal trains. Loads south, empties north. Mostly BNSF.
Enjoy your visit!
cheyenne,why is only about 2 1/2 hours from denver.there is a lot of up rr action on the north side of town as well a bridge ocer the middle of the yard that provides good oppertunites for photos.
tuxedoj,
Yep, good tip on Cheyenne. I have not been in the depot due it just not fitting my schedule so far when through town, but the UP Station has a great new exhibit. The HOn3 C&S layout Harry Brunk built and wrote up in the “Up Clear Creek” series in the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette has been moved to an exhibit hall in the depot. It is being lovingly curated by a small group of dauntless true believers in preserving Harry’s rendition of things west of Denver when the narrowgauge still ran and nobody yet imagined I-70.
Museum Link:
http://www.cheyennedepotmuseum.org/
Some pics of the layout: