Steam & Excursion > Colorado Narrow Gauge (not former Rio Grande)

In September 2017, I traveled to Denver, Colorado.  I spent a very pleasant Saturday taking in the heritage of several Colorado narrow gauge lines, none of which were in the Denver & Rio Grande system.

My first stop was the Georgetown Loop Railroad whose heritage was originally a segment of the Georgetown, Breckenridge & Leadville Railroad.  Subsequently, the Colorado & Southern took over the line

1) The scene which greeted me upon arriving at Silver Plume.

2) Riders waiting to board the train at the Silver Plume depot

3) View of the scenery from the rear of the train.

 

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4) Locomotive #111 crosses over the Devils Gate High Bridge

5) The 111 switches ends of the train at Georgetown Siding

6) Same in black & white
 

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Good to see the ol' Georgetown Loop! Rode this one many times back around 2006-2010 due to the family having a condo just on the other side of Loveland Pass. Glad also to see it seems to have kept up good fortunes given the issues it ran into during Railstar's tenure around that same time period.

7) A diesel has been added.  The train is crossing the Devil's Gate High Bridge, again.

8) The 111 and diesel created a wonderful cacophony of sound as they pulled the train upgrade.

9) After the train returned to Silver Plume, locomotive 111's tender was filled with water. 

My ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad was my only steam experience in 2017.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and heartily recommend it to anyone who has not been on this line.  I hope to ride it again during a future visit to Colorado.
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/24 05:45 by RuleG.

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The next stop was the High Line Railroad Park in Breckenridge.

The park has a Colorado & Southern display.

10) A plaque with a photo of the Breckenridge, CO depot.  (I looked on line for a photo of the Breckenridge, CO depot, but all I could find were photos of the Breckenridge MN (Great Northern) depot.

11) C & S boxcar 8323

12) C & S caboose 1012



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/24 18:22 by RuleG.

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13) Denver, Leadville & Gunnison Rotary Plow 01

14) Colorado & Southern #9.  This locomotive operated for a few months in 2006 on the Georgetown Loop Railroad.  I would have loved to see it in operation, but by the time I learned that #9 was operating on the line, it was too late.  That said, I was happy to see this sporty locomotive in such great shape at the park.  Gotta love that plow!

15) Next, it was on to Como.  Here is a view of the wonderful scenery seen on the way to Como.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/24 19:55 by RuleG.

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Como was a major location for the Denver, South Park & Pacific.

16) Como Hotel & Eating House

17 & 18) Two Views of the Como Depot 

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16) C & S Boxcar 13121.  Has it been mounted on trucks since this photo was taken?

17) Georgetown, Breckenridge & Leadville gondola

 

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Super photos!
Bob

16, 17 & 18: Three images of the Como Roundhouse.  The sun was not in a good position for me to get decent photos of the roundhouse's front side..

Since these photos were taken, much restoration progress has been made.

I hope to return some day to see the results of these efforts and to see Klondike Kate #4 in operation.

Thank you for looking.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/24 05:47 by RuleG.

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Thanks for the tour and the excellent photos.  Hope to be out there with friends next spring.

-John

1 - South Park Rail Society did impressive work in 2018 at Como, Colorado.  Here's the hand operated turntable with Klondike Kate #4 peeking out of the Como Roundhouse (built 1881 by Italian stone masons).

2 - Engineer Jeff Badger was instrumental in getting Klondike Kate #4 steamed up June 29, 2018.

3 - Dr. Chuck Brantigan and his wife Kathy are the folks behind the South Park Rail Society efforts to bring the Como Complex up to its current restoration.  They have purchased the Como Hotel/Eating House as of October 2023.  They hosted Boreas Pass Day on August 17, 2024.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/24 10:06 by cozephyr.

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Thank you, cozephyr, for providing additional Como images (including one showing the roundhouse with the sunlit front!).

I appreciate the updates you've posted on Trainorders about the work being done at Como.

Sounds like you had a great trip.

Thanks for the pictures.

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