Join us as we hike between the famed mining towns of Silver Plume and Georgetown Colorado as we shoot video of the famous Georgetown Loop Railroad! Originally built in 1884, the Georgetown Loop is an engineering marvel used to help trains of the Georgetown, Breckenridge, and Leadville Railroad (and Colorado Central Railway under the umbrella of Union Pacific) it later became part of the far flung Colorado and Southern Railway system (under the Chicago Burlington and Quincy).
The loop proceeds out of Georgetown where it makes a 180 degree turn to head back towards Georgetown then makes another sweeping curve atop the high Devil's Gate Viaduct. This switchback without actually switching allowed trains to travel the 700 vertical feet between the two towns without stopping. From inception until its demise in the late 1930's the Loop carried ore from the mines, their supplies, and loads of tourists until the rails were pulled up.
In the 1970's though, the Colorado Historical Society began having the tracks relaid, culminating with the rebuilt Devils Gate Viaduct opening in 1984 officially making the loop once again, a full loop. For years this railroad was operated by Lindsay and Rosa Ashby, today's owners of Canon City's 'Royal Gorge Route' (aka, the Canon City and Royal Gorge, CCRG).
While this video features the Ashby's former locomotive, ex- International Railways of Central America (ICRA) No. 40, a 2-8-0 built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in the USA for that carrier in Guatemala. Also on the property is a slightly bigger ICRA 2-8-0, the 111 which came to the states via the long defunct Sundown and Southern Railway which was located in Fort Lupton Colorado (the 111 is not in this video).
The Georgetown Loop is one of the scenic railroads of Colorado that should not be missed, especially since it's a quick drive up from the Denver Metro Area and right on Interstate 70 (it's a shorter drive here than to major ski areas such as Winter Park and Loveland Pass)
1 окт 2024
