HI Everyone, I am in Denver visiting my daughter for a month or so. Does any one have a point of interest I might like to visit? I am looking for train layouts, shows, old train yards, train rides and hobby shops.
Thanks
Homer
Check out Caboose Hobbies - one of the biggest there is! Lots of other places in the area, Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. Don’t know if its open yet though. Colorado is a mecca for model railroaders!
Homer; as Bob said, first stop is Caboose Hobbies, they have a flier on local railroad opportunities.
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/index_brief.php
Caboose is located at the corner of Virginia and Broadway. Goggle Maps has it a few blocks south of the correct location when you search for Caboose Hobbies, but if you magnify and scroll north to Virginia and Broadway - it shows it there…
You might want to go to Greeley to the New Museum. I haven’t been but I will if I get back in that area…
While in Denver You might be interested in the Forney Transportation Museum…
http://www.forneymuseum.org/Hours.html
Also of interest might be the Boulder Model Railroad club…
http://www.bouldermodelrailroadclub.org/
And You really should visit the Georgetown loop rr which isn’t far from the Colorado rr Museum in Golden…
http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/
And No trip to Colorado is complete until You ride the Durango Silverton Scenic Train…
http://www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org/visitor-information
Whatever You do, Enjoy Colorado,Probably the most Beautiful state on the Continent.IMO
You must go see the layout they have in Denver Union Station downtown on 17th & Wynkoop. It’s awesome!! It’s been there since 1930’s. It is located in the basement, follow the signs.
I was at the Greeley museum over Easter and posted some photos in this weekends WPF thread, it is really worth visiting but check for opening times as it is only open on Saturdays and some Friday Evenings.
I also dropped into Caboose Hobbies and I have to say it seemed better stocked this time round, so I was happy to see that.
The museum at Golden is also very good and has a model railroad on display as well.
I also really enjoyed Mizell trains in Westminster, just North of Denver http://www.mizelltrains.com/ they had a bunch of stuff on sale and I think better prices than Caboose Hobbies.
The Forney Museum also near the center of Denver http://www.forneymuseum.org/ does not have a lot of RR equipment, but they do have a Big Boy. It is worth a visit, especially if you also have an interest in automobiles.
That pretty much summarises everything we did RR related over the Easter weekend!
Look fro the Durango and Silverton Scenic RR, the Georgetown Loop SRR, and the Cumbres and Toltec SRR.
Yikes, a month in Denver !!!
Well, to be honest, Denver is not one of my favorite cities. BUT, it is close to some of the most beautiful country in the USofA, and a train nut’s Nirvana!
The Colorado rail muesum is a must see, and of course the famous Denver Hobby shop (name slipped my mind - but it is outstanding). Then just a short drive away is the Georgetown loop RR, Pikes Peak cog Railroad (sip water often when ascending - it will fight off altitude sickness), and several other RR points of interest.
Denver itself has a lot of UP facilities, but its been 12 years since I’ve been there so am not certain where they are.
Really, within a days drive there is a ton of good stuff to see and do. And if you can do an overnighter, the Durango & Silverton excursion is one of the best! Do get tickets ahead of time.
Mobilman44
Welcome to Denver, Homer!! What do you model? If you model mountains and/or mines, there are dozens of beautiful prototype places in the mountains just west of Denver…I have started posting some pictures on the picture thread here in fact.
I’m a native Coloradoan and if you’re here in Denver, why don’t you contact me through the forum and give me your telephone number and I’d be happy to give you a little rundown. You’re here at a perfect time of year, although there is NO bad time of year in Colorado!!
You mentioned rail road yards so I take it you’d like to see more than just models and museum memories?
Head west and hang around Moffat tunnel some great scenery on both sides of the Mtn.
I’d throw my support in with those mentioning the and Silverton. It’s a bit a of drive, but the amazing scenery and the busy, exclusively steam railroad make it worth the trip. I’ll be there with my family this summer: Gram, Pappa, wife, son (14) and daughter (7). My wife and I have been there before, and it’s a guaranteed win for the others.
Allen
While you’re there, don’t just focus on the trains, there’s so much more in Colorado. Work has taken me elsewhere, but I still miss it. Denver Museum of Natural History is excellent. So is the zoo. Garden of the gods in C Springs is a classic, though I do miss the old trading post and less modern feel it used to have. The old mining towns are worth seeing for the history, even if not for the railroading. Plus there are several state parks that are as good as a National Park (not to mention RMNP as well). And while everyone focuses on the narrow gauge, if that’s not your thing, granger towns are just a few hours drive east (funny how your concept of distance changes when living in the east and living in the west).
Hi again,
The preceeding poster mentioned "funny how your concept of distance changes when living in the east and living in the west). How true, how true!
I was born/raised in Chicago proper (Go Lane Tech!), and a 5 mile trip to the beach was a major excursion. Work brought me to Texas (Great State of…) in the late '70s, and I’ve been here ever since (and ain’t leaving). Now, a 5 mile trip is just nothing, and a 200-250 mile trip (to Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi) is considered no big deal.
The point to all this is that from Denver, you could drive a few hundred miles in any direction in “no time”, and see some absolutely wonderful sights. Colorado, and the surrounding areas (esp. northern New Mexico) is a must see for everyone!
Imagine, a month’s vacation in Denver…
Mobilman44
There are actually TWO model railroads in the basement of Union Station. The O Scale club as described above has been there since the '30s and there is also an HO scale club called the Platte Valley and Western. They (the PV&W) are open every Friday 7pm-9pm as well was special events.
The Colorado Railroad Museum is open year round. There is also an HO scale layout in the basement of of the main building. The layout is viewable during all business hours but if you would like to talk to the members that maintain it, they are there thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 pm.
As Mentioned Caboose Hobbies is a must. In fact I am heading up there next weekend to make a supply run.
Also I highly recommend the Greeley Freight Station Museum. Its a very cool layout. (5600 sq. ft, and that’s just the layout) They have a Full CTC system and many other things that you need to see. It is the one of the most spectacular layouts I have seen in my 22 years of modeling. I would suggest going on a Saturday as this is when the volunteers run the layout and not the computer (during the week, the trains are all automatically run by the computer).
The Georgetown loop railroad is also a good train to ride. It is about 45 minutes west of Denver up in the mountains. It is right off of Interstate 70. Also if you like Candy (or homemade ice cream), there is an amazing Candy shop in Downtown Georgetown. The Devil’s Gate bridge is worth the drive just to see.
If you can get down to Southern Colorado to Durango (about a 6-7 hour drive from Denver), the Durango and Silverton is a great piece of Railroad History as the line has been continuously operated since 1885. The train ride is an all day event but very much worth it. The views are absolutely spectacular
homer your more then welcome to come over to my layout.i’m just north of denver
jeff morrison
Just a month to see all the train stuff in Denver, that will be hard.
In addition to all the things already mentioned…
I spend hours on the “Park Avenue Viaduct” just North of Coors Field. It is elevated right over the BNSF loco shops as well as right next to where the famous-joint line begins. Near the far north side one can watch the BNSF switch their 23rd stree yard. I park at the bottom and walk along the wide sidewalk on the eastern side.
Across the interstates (I-25 and I-70) is the UP (fromerly D&RGW) North Yard. Lots of action there.
There is the 8th street viaduct over there former D&RGW Burnhan loco shops. Or take the light rail to the Osage station to see the other side. I always enjoy looking at the dead locomotive track. This is where they bring all the old locomotives to strip parts and whatnot before sending them to scrap.
Don’t forget Cheyenne just two hours north.
23 rd st yard? Do you mean 31st? That is a good area. Take the bike path as well and you can get down closer to the lead there.
There is a lot to do in Denver. Go up to Golden and check the museum out. You can then railfan along the Golden Sub.Golden hasa lot of neat buildings plus you can get a view of the Coors plant and their switching.
Have a great trip !
Yup, I always end up saying that because the loco facitily was originally called the 23rd and for some reason it has locked into my brain.
Well I am having a great time in Denver, Went to Caboose Hobbies (spent to much), Mizell’s wall of trains (talk Lionel from the twenties, I have 1926 and 1929) (spent to much) . Been to Greeley trains, outstanding layout. Stood in line for 30 min @ Union Station, but couldn’t wait. Doors to Denver Days I’ll make another trip back when there are a few less people. Took the Diner train @ Royal Gorge (last trip) that was a nice evening. Still got more to see, only going to stay here till Memorial Weekend; Your suggestion have been really helpfull. Thank to all that have responded to my posting.
Thomas (Homer)
I would like to see another hobbyist layout just to get me motived on my 16’ x 16’ l-shaped, it’s been awhile since I’ll tried to finish it.(work on it).
Greeley was a real eye opener, they took me behind the walls to show me the staging area and give me a little history on how long and how much time their club has put in. Of course I can’t spend that much.
Any other layouts that a open for veiwing please respone here or call me 810 252-4348 leave a message
Thanks Homer