Train spotting and other related activities.......

[taku]

I was recently in Colorado on business and the beautiful drive from Hot Sulphur Springs to Grandby with the tracks opposit the river really gave me the urge to get a ticket just to see the rest of the scenery.   At the very least, later this summer I want to take my son somewhere cool to watch & see trains.
I live in Wisconsin, but there is something special about mountain passes....

If anyone has any recommendations for things to go see & do, I'd love to hear it.
I will be in Grand Lake, Colorado from July 18th to Aug 9th with the family.   I really wanted to catch the 844 from Denver to Cheyenne for the rodeo and thought that maybe I could even talk my wife into it as she would love the rodeo.  She did nix that as she thought it would be too much of a production and all day(and a long one at that) affair with an infant and an almost 3 year old. 
I did also look into an Amtrak ticket from Fraser to Grand Junction and return, but it looks like that would involve a two day trip and hotel one night or a one way trip and driver to come retrieve us. 
All that being said, anything close and simple would be great.  When the boys are older we will surely do the Cheyenne trip as well as the Silverton Durango, but for now, short attention spans and naps limit the day...

Any and all suggestions are welcome.   I'd even like to hear suggestions for southern Wisconsin (I'm near Lake Geneva) if anyone has any. 
PS- Matt loves Steam!
Thanks in advance!

[Yampa Bob]

Hi Matt,
I live in Northwest Colorado, about 200 miles from Denver. Here are a few suggestions.

Georgetown Loop Railroad, short ride between Georgetown and Silver Plume, highlight is crossing the Devil's Gate bridge. Their steam locomotives are being rebuilt in their shop, but even with the Porter diesel, still a breathtaking ride. New this year is the "Moonlight in the Mountains Dinner Train", check the schedule for dates.
http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/

Check out that "Rocky Mountain Prime Rib".
http://www.glrrupdates.com/updates/2009/june2009/june2009.html

Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. They have many exhibits and special events, this year celebrating their 50th anniversary.
http://www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org/

http://www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org/event-listings

Caboose Hobbies at 5th & Broadway, largest model train store in the nation, in business 70 years.  They have a wooden railroad to keep the kids occupied while you shop. Here's their web site, and a great video.
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/index_home.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhzInvosLAk

If you need a night of lodging close to the above, Days Inn at Interstate 70, Golden exit is a great place to stay. 

If you need more information or directions, I'll be glad to send you an email.

Regards

[pdlethbridge]

Or better yet you could stay at Bob's.

[Jhanecker2]

To taku  :  Have you been to the Illinois Railroad Museum in Union Illinois ?  It is basically a day trip from Lake Geneva area .   Checkout their site on the internet.   John  II.

[pdlethbridge]

If you come east, try the following:
http://www.ebtrr.com/
http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
http://www.thecog.com/
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/horseshoe.html
http://usparks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.nps.gov/stea/

[Yampa Bob]

Don't you have some more decoders to install?  Or something?   

[jettrainfan]

If you come east, try the following:
http://www.ebtrr.com/
http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
http://www.thecog.com/
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/horseshoe.html
http://usparks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.nps.gov/stea/

Or when your heading over their, stop at the station at berea! that's where the action is other than horseshoe curve out east. 

[jward]

cumberland maryland makes a good base. the western maryland scenic rr runs steam out of there, and csx has a major yard and diesel shop.
in addition, within a couple hour's drive are:
horseshoe curve and the railroaders museum.
the east broad top rr, narrow guage steam.
the potomac eagle at romney wv, beautiful ride behind emd fp7 painted in c&o colours.....
not a day trip from cumberland, but well worth checking out anyway:
the cass scenic rr in west virginia, ride behind live shays. this spectacular line climbs 2400 feet in 11 miles, allowing the shays to do what they were built to: haul trains up steep grades and sharp curves.....

[pdlethbridge]

Bob, Bob, Bob. I should put a decoder in you, but one that can handle some serious back emf.

[taku]

Thanks everyone for the responses so far!
We have been to Union, Il.  My dad used to take me there when I was young.  We took Matt there last summer and plan to go again this summer a few times.

The Georgetown Loop looks great Bob.  Too bad the steam locos are out for service this summer.   I'll see if we can make that a day outing.   I'm still trying to convince my wife to go from Fraser to Grand Junction and back on the Amtrak just to enjoy the ride and scenery....  It looks like there's no way around that being a 2 day trip though (out one and back the next)  Not bad if it werent for Kids and all of the associated stuff that travels with.

I do plan to hit some of the eastern spots as well, but they may have to wait until the boys are a bit older or if we happen to have a family trip in that direction.   ( I might be that way on business though..... and I'm still a boy..... so....)

Is there a good way to find out when & where steam locos rumble through town?   
I found the UP site that details the 844 and 3985, but are there other sites that track more locos and there proposed routes?
Last winter we were lucky enough to catch a tiny blip in a local paper about Santa coming to a nearby town on a train.   My son Matt couldn't have cared less about standing in line for an hour to see Santa.  He just wanted to walk around and study the beautiful and powerful hissing behemoth that brought him.  (that was fine by me, as I would rather check out steam locos than stand in line to see Santa too.)
Thanks again for all of the great advice so far.

[jsmvmd]

Dear Taku,

As you, I was in the same boat with little kids, not taking trips until they were older, etc.  Infants and toddlers are quite a handful, especially for Mom, I think.

My point is, you might want to consider some trips as possible.  We have a friend who flew their 3-month old daughter from central PA to Key West in a small single engine Cessna.  No problems, because they were mentally prepared and motivated to do it.

I, too postponed some trips with similar reasoning to yours, only to have missed opportunities now that we are divorced.

This is not meant to be a downer, just a friendly perspective!

Best Wishes and Enjoy those Children !

Jack

[jward]

i agree. i have an 8 year old son, who is going with me to railfest in altoona this summer. we intend to camp out along the mainline somewhere, and later on in the summer we may do cumberland as well....

kids love to camp. they also love trains.

[jsmvmd]

Dear Jeff,

If you would like, please contact me privately.  I might have a few camping suggestions for you and Railfest.

jsmvmdataolperiodcom

Best Wishes,

Jack