Adventurers in the Rockies

Chapter Eleven

July 11, 2016

Monday

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

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In 2014, Locomotive #12, the Mary Ross, was placed in service as the newest engine used at Tiny Town.















Car barn.


















After the train was assembled Chris and I were invited to ride on inspection and first ride of the day. Of course we accepted with smiles.

































Train at station for check over.






















In 1920, the town was open to the public. In just five years, it became one of Colorado's top attractions.



By 1939, the "World Famous" Tiny Town Railway was in operation. By then Tiny Town was creating thousands of special memories for kids of all ages.



However, the historic town was not without its setbacks as fires, floods and changing economic times often kept this special place on the edge of extinction.



In 1988, volunteers adopted the resurrection of Tiny Town as a civic, charitable project. Individuals from the entire state refurbished original buildings, created new structures and got the railroad up and running.



The Tiny Town Foundation was created in 1990 to establish Tiny Town as not-for-profit and ensure the cherished village would never be threatened again. Each year the foundation had been proud to donate a portion of the proceeds to various area charities.












Tiny Town continues to grow each year with new buildings being added to the park. In 2011, several buildings built by Tiny Town's founder, George Turner, were found on a property nearby and donated to Tiny Town, were restored and are on display as Turnerville.













After our inspection ride we said our thanks and good byes to the staff and special thanks to Stan and Dennis for showing us around and answering our questions.

Leaving Tiny Town we rejoined Rt. 470 going north to I-70. At I-70 it was west to exit 243, Central City Parkway and to our next stop.

Central City

Within weeks of John Gregory's discovery of gold in 1859, hordes of prospectors were swarming over the steep sides of Gregory Gulch, which soon earned the title "the richest square mile on Earth." Although later eclipsed by the lodes at Cripple Creek, the gold dug from Gregory Gulch amounted to more than $67 million.


 
Central City, the middle camp among several that sprang up along the precipitous gulch, soon absorbed its immediate neighbors. Train loads of theatergoers came from Denver to enjoy Central City's cultural advantages. In 1932 the Opera Festival featured Lillian Gish in "Camille."  The festival still attracts crowds every summer in July and August.

With its preserved 1870s main street, Central City is part of a national historic district that is surrounded by hills and dotted with Victorian houses. Outdoors enthusiasts enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. The city offers a variety of museums, casinos and summer festivals.




71 Colorado & Southern 2-8-0 built 1897  narrow (36")







Colorado & Southern Combine  20.

From Central City we took Rt 119 south to our next stop in Blackhawk, which has a good amount of gambling establishments.




Located at Colorado Station Casino is 71  2-8-0 built 1911 narrow (36") gauge.



 From Blackhawk we returned to Rt 119, then west on US 6 and return to I-70 and exit at 240 and Idaho Springs.

As had the Ute Indians before them, bone-weary miners from the nearby diggings soothed their aches in the mineral springs of Idaho Springs. Known particularly for its radium hot springs, the town has been a popular spa since the 1880s. It retains many Victorian buildings and structures characteristic of the brick and stone architecture on the 1880s.

The first major gold strike in Colorado was made in early 1859 at the juncture of Chicago and Clear creeks; a monument less than one-quarter mile southwest on Chicago Creek Road marks the spot. More than 200 mines in the vicinity once produced silver, uranium, tungsten, zinc, molybdenum, gold and lead.



A relic of the early mining days is "Locomotive 60," which, along with a coal tender and passenger coach of the Colorado and Southern Railroad, stands on a section of the original narrow gauge track in the downtown business district. The train made its first run in 1886.
 







Harold E. Anderson Park  60 2-8-0 built 1886 narrow (36") gauge.










Leaving Idaho Springs we drove west on I-70 to Georgetown and the Loop,



We parked near the bridge and climbed up the rocks to get a better view for our photos.









Devil's Gate High Bridge.






From our photo spot we returned to I-70 and went west to Silver Plume at exit 226 for the Silver Plume Depot.






While we waited for our train ride we explored the area and their museum.


















Our train left from the Silver Plume Station.









I -70 in background.






Lebanon Silver Mine next to Clear Creek.






View from bridge of Clear Creek and Devil's Gate Station.










Loco switching ends on our train.























Passengers who stopped off to tour the Lebanon Silver Mine.






After our Georgetown Loop train ride we rejoined I-70 to I-76 to I-25 north and then Rt 128 to Westminster and our Super 8 motel for our night's rest.