Touring the Denver, Front Range and Western Model Railroad

Rio Grande train number 147 heads north from here on the joint line to Denver. It arrived two hours ago from Kansas City and now has a fresh crew. The horsepower of two GP40-2s and an SD40T-2 easily pulls the train through the warehouse district. The south end of Colorado Springs is home to an industrial area that's busy enough for daily switching. Train number 147 rolls through the north end of Colorado Springs by the Public Utilities Power Plant. Palmer Lake was built as a source of water for steam engines. GP40-2 number 3097 leaves Palmer Lake for Larkspur. In the foreground is the Santa Fe track over state route 18. This is the beginning of double-tracked main. The three units rumble through Castle Rock on the northbound main. Denver Union Station is a Colorado landmark. Eventually, train 147 eases by the joint Burlington Northern and Santa Fe engine terminal. Number 147 pulls to a stop in Denver Yard for a quick crew change. Leaving Denver yard, this mixed freight drifts by Utah Junction where the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern connect to Cheyenne. In back as the D&RGW engine facility. The Cargill grain elevators see a lot of traffic. At Rocky Flats just outside of Denver, the GPs begin to climb. Big 10 Curve has an unusual sight. A string of old hoppers is weighted and bolted to the track. The hoppers act as a windbreak. Here, train 147 crosses highway 72 working upgrade. At Plainview, tunnel number two takes this general merchandise train into the helix. Pinecliffe is the exit from the helix at tunnel 27. At Tolland, the track follows South Boulder Creek. East Portal is the highest point on the main line and the entrance to the Moffat Tunnel. The 6.2-mile long tunnel requires dynamic brakes for the trip downgrade. Winter Park is a ski resort owned by the city of Denver. Granby features an oil distributor and the Granby Cement and Aggregate Plant. At one time, the livestock business generated a lot of paying freight, but today, that traffic is gone. Lead unit number 3097 heads through Bond where the only interesting thing is the Energy Coal Mine. Glenwood Canyon makes it clear why this area is a resort. All you have to do is enjoy the scenery. Glenwood Springs is a popular tourist retreat because of the hot springs. Train number 147 picks up speed on the outskirts of Glenwood Springs. At Grand Junction, the units head into a hidden staging yard representing Salt Lake City.