Large Scale Central

Georgetown Loop questions

Prototypes
#1

We will be visiting with my youngest son Matthew’s new family in Highlands Ranch, CO (just south of Denver) at the end of August. I’ve already planted the seed of introducing my granddaughter to trains and got a good reception. That alone is surprising as when Matt was getting to be a teenager he loathed another trip to the ECLSTS or EBT.

I’ve checked out their website and it appears that they might be running the Shay, but nowhere does it say for sure or give any schedule of what days are steam and what days are diesel.

Anyone know the scoop for this season?

#2

Georgetown Loop RR is an excellent choice as well as the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO.

#3

Kevin might know better than I, but the Shay over the years has been a very dicey proposition. Last time I was up there it was a very unromantic switcher-type diesel pulling the cars. Nice trip, but not the same as the Shay for sure.

One place you really want to get to is the Colorado Railroad Museum, in Golden, including our fantastic large scale layout on the grounds. Very, very nice. I’m sure that one of us here in Denver would be more than happy to meet you out there on a train-running day.

#4

Jon,

Call them and ask.

That’s what I did last year and found they would be running the Shay on the

day we planned to be there. Of course plans are subject to change when dealing

with something as mechanically cantankerous as a Shay Locomotive.

No matter what they are pulling with, the ride and views are splendid.

Spring for the expensive seats, they are worth the extra bucks.

Have fun there, we sure did.

Rick

#5

If the Shay is running (or not), hang back by the cab and ask for a cab ride. Worst they can do is say no and they let my wife and I ride up in the cab on the Shay sitting on the sand box (and never even took our tickets).

#6

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking that a call would be in order. I will wait until it gets closer as anything can happen in two months!

The museum at Golden is even closer. Unfortunately we are arriving on a Saturday and leaving on a Friday. Looks like they run 1:1 trains only on Saturday

#7

Daktah John said:

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking that a call would be in order. I will wait until it gets closer as anything can happen in two months!

The museum at Golden is even closer. Unfortunately we are arriving on a Saturday and leaving on a Friday. Looks like they run 1:1 trains only on Saturday

Though I understand wanting to see and ride another train, there is soooo much to see at the museum, you’ll have a great day and the large scale layout is quite nice.

#8

John,

one thing to look into in going to Georgetown, is that I-70 construction west of Denver, around Idaho springs if I remember correctly. there was a big backup (read hours) on I-70 last September. they were working on tunnels and it was a big mess. the back roads were backed up as well. granted this was labor day w/e, but it was also Saturday afternoon, when one would normally expect folks to be @ there w/e destination.

Al P.

#9

John, as far as the DGRS garden railway is concerned we run on Wednesday (usually some live steam), Friday and Saturday. You can contact me with a date and approximate time and I’ll make sure the someone is operating the railway when you visit. Right now we are busy prepping for the 2015 NGRC but we would be happy to have something up and running for you.

Alan Olson,

DGRS museum garden railway chairman.

[email protected]

#10

If anyone really wants to ride behind a Shay, be in Northern California over labor Day at Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad in Felton, just North of Santa Cruz on Hiway 17. They run a 2-Truck and a 3-Truck all weekend,most years. If one of the Shays is in the shop (which is rare) they run a Heisler, which is pretty cool too. The trip up Bear Mountain is a beautiful ride through a huge Redwood forest. when you reach the top, the train stops and the train gets robbed by a motley group of robbers, of which I am a member. It is a fun time, and If you make it up there before the 11 am train look for me and I will try to get you in the cab for the ride up - again, that is sometime possible, sometimes not, as they have trainees on board some weekends and there isn’t room for others.

#11

Thanks all. I’m thinking the museum at Golden would probably not be a good family trip with a 1.5 year old. Mostly because I would want to spend hours poking around and they would get antsy to leave. Maybe just the guys can make a day trip and spend some time there. Funny; 15 years ago when we came out to do the D&S and C&T we missed our connection to Durango at Denver. Needed to stay overnight and the closest room was in Golden. I had no idea the museum was there. We took the first flight out to Durango which was a mistake since we got nearly no sleep and arrived in Durango many hours before we could check in to our hotel. We could have got some sleep, seen the museum and been in Durango in time to see some trains run.

Alan - I’ll be in touch several weeks in advance once we have finalized plans. We will be in the Denver area near the end of August.

Al - Thanks for the heads up. We will definitely check that out before going up the mountain.

Andrew - Big Trees and Roaring Camp is definitely on my bucket list. No chance of getting there this year, but some day. Thieu two-truck Shay is a dead ringer for the Bachman 2-Truck.

#12

The I-70 tunnel work is wrapped up, but they do rock scaling fairly regularly, which may delay you 40 minutes or so. Generally that’s publicized on CDOT’s web site.

In terms of the Shay on the loop, the past few times I’ve been up there, they’ve had that running. I must admit I was more partial to #12, but there’s something to be said for having a loco that can actually pull the trains up the 4% grade, so I won’t complain. I believe the Shay is their normal loco now (especially in the Summer/Fall), but I don’t know how often they have to take it in for routine maintenance.

And as always, the TRR is generally amenable to visitors, so if you’ve got some extra time on your hands, drop me a line.

Later,

K

#13

Thanks Kevin - will do.