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Greeley, Fort Collins, Terry Bison Ranch

Adventurers in the Rockies


Chapter Nine

Greeley, Fort Collins Municipal Railway, Terry Bison Ranch

July 9, 2016

Saturday

by

Robin Bowers


Text and Photos by Author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent.


Comments are appreciated at...yr.mmxx@gmail.com



   Leaving Laramie and the Motel 8 this morning, Chris and I headed south on US 287 and to Sherman Hill to catch a train or two.


1823


1826

After our first and only train, we left here and proceeded to Cheyenne. From there we took US 85 south to Greeley, CO.

1829
 
Greeley, CO Union Pacific 1929 station now the Greeley History Museum.

    Greeley was founded by a group of visionaries who responded to New York publisher Horace Greeley's renowned exhortation, " Go West, young man!" Greeley's dream to establish an agricultural community in Colorado grew from his visit in 1859.  Given power by his newspaper, the New York Tribune, and leadership by his agricultural editor, Nathan Meeker, the dream became a reality with the arrival of the first colonists in 1870.

    The location, near the confluence of the Cache la Poudre and South Platte rivers, was well chosen. By 1875 the colony had constructed one of the first large irrigation systems in the territory, and hay and barley were waving in the fields not occupied by cattle. Cattle and crops remain agricultural mainstays.

  1828



1831

Found these old cars close to the station in Greeley.

1832

Continuing south US 85 for a few miles takes us to La Salle UP station.

1835


1837

From here we back tracked to Greeley and Rt. 392 and then stopping at Windsor.
 
1842
 
Originally built in 1882 by the C&S, the Windsor Depot.

1840


1838
 
Great Western Caboose 1010.

1844

From here we continued west on Rt. 392 to I-25  and then north to Fort Collins.

1846

UP station.

1847


1848

And nearby was the C & S Freight Depot.

 1849


1850


1851

    Leaving here it was a short drive to the Fort Collins Municipal Railway that is the only original restored city streetcar operation in the western U.S. In operation since 1985, it is a traveling museum running for the benefit of residents and visitors, entirely restored and operated by volunteers.
    Fort Collins is 65 miles north of Denver on I-25 and is noted as the smallest municipality in the U.S. to own and operate a streetcar system. This approximately eight mile system served the community from 1907 to 1951 and had a fare of just five cents, the lowest in the nation.

1852


1855

Car 21 barn and shop.

1856

    In 1977 a group of volunteers began a ground-up restoration of Birney Car 21; leading to this award-winning streetcar we were riding today. While the initial restoration and operation of the system was financed entirely by volunteer effort and donations, this has evolved into a dynamic partnership with the City. The Fort Collins Municipal Railway Society is responsible for the restoration , operation and maintenance of this system.

1857


1859

Our operator, Bob Manning.

1860

Chris checking out the operator's stand.

1861


1862


1863



1865


1868

  Tracks leading from the car barn/shop to the main line.


1870

    The Birney Car, named after its designer Charles Birney, is often referred to a "Galloping Goose" because of its design. With its single truck (four wheels) under the center of the car an overhang on each end. the car has a tendency to bounce or "gallop" when it picks up speed. This car was purchased new for about $6,000 in 1919. It has two 35 hp motors. The car is 28 feet long, 7'8" wide and weight eight tons. It seats 28. Because it is a priceless antique, it is only operated at a reduced speed. The restored line is over 1.5 miles long from City Park down Mountain Avenue to Howes Street.

1872

Bob Manning changing poles to reverse direction of travel.

    The term "trolley" refers to the little wheel that runs along the overhead power line to bring down 600 volts DC for the car's power supply. The "chugging" noise you hear from time to time is the air compressor for air-brakes and doors. When the line was retired in 1951, it was the last streetcar to operate commercially in Colorado and the last scheduled Birney car operation on the North American continent.

1873

Bob switches tracks to go to the city park.

1875

Notice its single truck (four wheels) under the center of the car.

1876

Ticket office in city park and boarding area.

1880



 1882

Mountain Avenue line.

1883

After finishing our ride we drove several blocks to the railway shop.

1884

Here we asked a leaving worker if he would spare a few minutes to give us a tour of the shop. He was very accommodating and allowed us to see inside the shop that very few people get to see.

1889


1891


1892



1894


1897 


1898


1899


 1900

From Fort Collins we drove north on I-25 heading to Cheyenne. After crossing the WY state line we exited at Exit 2 (Terry Ranch Road).
 

1911

Both Chris and I were looking forward to tonight's stop at this historic working bison ranch with more than 3,000 bison.

1904

Ranch train traveling through a bison herd.

1905

Photo taken from our cabin.

1909

Front porch of our cabin with near window in family room & far window for the bedroom.

        Chris had reserved a one bedroom cabin for the night. It was a nice change from motel rooms with the concrete and blacktop everywhere. The guest ranch has 86 full hook-up pull-thru RV sites, tent camping sites for large and small tents, the one and two bedroom cabins with full kitchen or kitchenette. There is also a historical bunkhouse with thirteen rooms. Each room sleeps two. The bunkhouse has a shared living room, restrooms and showers.

    We had arrived and were in our cabin around 2pm thus we had a couple of hours to unpack and get settled in before our 4:00pm train ride. And I had the bedroom tonight.


1913

Our engine for today's Bison Train Tours.

1912

We boarded our car and soon we were under way.

1914

Horseback riding and tours offered.

  1916


1917


1922

Traffic on I-25 is the camel's neighbor.

1924

  
1929

A memorial to a lost favorite.

1930


1931


1933


1934


1937

The wrangler pushing the herd toward our train cars.

1942


1944


1945


1951
 

 1954


1955

 
1956


1958


1959


1961


1965


1969


1968

Here we start our serpentine trip through two states. At several different times we will cross back and forth between WY and CO.

1971


1972
.

1975


1978



1987

A move-in fixer upper.

1990

Horseback & Tours barn.

1992

We arrived back at the station.

1993

Cowboy Chris riding his Jackalope.

1994

Back of our cabin with kitchen window.

1995


1997

At supper time we walked to the on site restaurant, The Senator's Restaurant where I had a bison meat dish. After a fulfilling meal we walked back to our cabin to enjoy the panorama of the Bison Ranch.

2000

  Neighbor cabins.

2001

More neighbors.

2003

A great view from our front porch.

2005


2014


2018


  2020

As darkness settled in, we were ready to spend the night with our bison neighbors. Tomorrow we will be traveling around Southeast Colorado while looking for one lonely wig wag.


    Thanks for reading.



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Text and Photos by Author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent.

Comments appreciated at ....
yr.mmxx@gmail.com