I awoke at the Motel 6 in Fort Collins and worked on stories for about two hours then went to the Waffle House for breakfast for the first time before checking out and driving to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden but stopped short.
BNSF 7261 East at the Golden station sign. After that I parked across the street from the Colorado Railroad Museum.
The view from across the road.
Except for the lighting, nothing had changed from my last visit two days ago. I went inside and picked up my train ticket to ride the first trip behind Rio Grande 2-8-0 346 at noon then returned outside and climbed up on the porch of the narrow gauge coach for a better view and to be out of the sun.
Today is the Colorado Railroad Museum's 50th birthday.
A nice crowd of people had gathered for the celebrationy.
The Color Guard waits for its moment in the sun.
Donald Tallman, Director of the Museum, welcomed everyone to the event.
The Colors were then presented.
Donald Tallman sang our National Anthem.
Bill Robie, President of the Board of Directors, spoke next.
The crowd listened to all the speakers.
Local officials were then introduced.
Next Cornelius W. Hauck gave a brief history of the museum.
I then decided it was time to set up for the parade of engines. Here is Florence & Cripple Creek box car 588 built by American Car and Foundry in 1898.
One last look at the gathering. I went over to the curve in the northwest part of the museum and waited.
Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose 2 would lead the Parade of Engines.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 346 was second.
The view from where I was set up.
Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose 2 started the Parade.
Galloping Goose 2 going away.
Denver and Rio Grande Grande Western 2-8-0 346 moved up and waited its turn.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 346 approaching.
The steam engine leaving.
Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose 6 coming.
Galloping Goose 6 going.
Next was Golden City & San Juan Railroad 6 ton swticher 3, ex. Sundown and Southern, nee Dupont built by Plymouth in 1935. It worked at the US Gypsum plant in Plaster City, California until it arrived at the museum in 1965.
The switcher leaving.
Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose 7 approaching.
Galloping Goose 7 leaving.
Following next was Golden City & San Juan Railroad (another name for the Georgetown Loop Railroad) 55 ton centre-cab switcher 4, ex. Durango and Silverton 4, exx. East Broad Top Railroad 4 built by General Electric in 1964. It arrived at the museum in 2006.
The switcher departing.
Next in the parade was a speeder.
The final engine of the parade was Denver and Rio Grande Western 30 ton switcher 50, ex. Edward Hines Lumber Company's Grant County Oregon mill,nee Sumpter Valley Railroad 101 built by Davenport Locomotive Works in 1937. It worked until the end of operations on the Sumpter Valley in 1961 then in 1963, was purchased by the Denver and Rio Grande Western where it worked at Durango until sold to the Roaring Camp and Big Trees in Felton, California in 1970. It was then purchased by a museum in Durango in 1981 and finally sold to the Colorado Railroad Museum in 1984.
Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose 2 on its second pass.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 346 passed by once again. After that I went back and sat in the shade of the tent and tried to call Let's Talk Trains but had a busy signal.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 346.
Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose 3. I then started the line to board the train that would be pulled by the steam engine.
