So I'm planning a trip to Denver in June and am looking for railroady places to visit near the city. The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is already on the itinerary, and Caboose Hobbies seems like an easy stop with the light rail nearby. Any other recommendations from Gaugers?
railohio Wrote:So I'm planning a trip to Denver in June and am looking for railroady places to visit near the city. The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is already on the itinerary, and Caboose Hobbies seems like an easy stop with the light rail nearby. Any other recommendations from Gaugers?
Nope...that's about it unless you're interested in a hobby store that caters to N-scalers in a big way, but that's in the Springs.
Call ahead and confirm the Caboose's operating hours to make sure they are open on the date and time you are going to visit. They frequently change their hours without telling anyone, especially on weekends.
I seem to remember a streetcar or LRT line there. We didn't actually go in to Denver...
A friend from the Modular club went to University of Colorado years ago. He lost interest in model railroading when he started rail fanning the Front Range and switched hobbies from model railroading to photographing the prototype in the Rockies at every opportunity. If you will have the time and a rental car, you might ask at Caboose Hobbies about places nearby for railfanning.
BR60103 Wrote:I seem to remember a streetcar or LRT line there. We didn't actually go in to Denver...
Denver does have light rail operating around the LoDo district for the most part. (lower downtown)
MountainMan Wrote:BR60103 Wrote:I seem to remember a streetcar or LRT line there. We didn't actually go in to Denver...
Denver does have light rail operating around the LoDo district for the most part. (lower downtown)
There are a lot of railfanning areas, but if you're driving around, Canon City is running the Royal Gorge rail tours and the chance to look UP at a bridge 11000 feet over your head is rare anywhere. Additionally, thanks to all of the rain and snow we are having, the Royal Gorge is roaring like it never has before for many years.
Not far from Denver is also the Georgetown Loop rail tour.
Almost forgot - haven't been there in a while...near the aquarium and stadium is a Railway Museum right along I-25.
How about local restaurant recommendations in the Denver area?
railohio Wrote:How about local restaurant recommendations in the Denver area?
What kind of food are you looking for?
MountainMan Wrote:Nope...that's about it unless you're interested in a hobby store that caters to N-scalers in a big way, but that's in the Springs.
Inquired about this; the retail side closed in 2006.
MountainMan Wrote:What kind of food are you looking for?
Good. Iconic local hot spots, regional chains, or holes in the wall.
My itinerary now includes a weekday drive down to Pueblo and a return the next evening thanks to work, so it looks like I'll get some railfan time in on the Joint Line after all. Might have a day free at the end to right the light rail system, too.
railohio Wrote:MountainMan Wrote:Nope...that's about it unless you're interested in a hobby store that caters to N-scalers in a big way, but that's in the Springs.
Inquired about this; the retail side closed in 2006.
Nope...I shop there all of the time. You must be thinking of a different hobby store entirely.
There are only three major railroad hobby stores along the Front Range:
1. The Caboose in Denver. Fairly decent N-scale but lousy sales staff.
2. Custom Railway Supply in Colorado Springs off of Garden of the Gods. Minimal N-scale.
3. Discount Trains in Colorado Springs on Academy Blvd. (HUGE N-scale department, HQ for European N-scale trains in America such as Marklin, etc.) About 1/3 of the store is devoted to N-scale.
Yes, I was referencing N Scale Supply, which no longer has a retail operation.
Is that right..?? 11,000 feet above ground level, or sea level..??