Denver/Cheyenne railfan info for upcoming tsunami of stupid...

[rswinnerton]

Hey gang, in a couple weeks, a couple friends and I are headed to Denver, Cheyenne and the surrounding environs for our yearly dose of epic goonery and rental car destruction. Any places particularly good for trains that we shouldn't miss? We're already planning the Moffat line and the UP transcon east and west of Cheyenne including the Crawford Hill area. What else?
Thanks,
Russ

[Philip H]

Caboose hobbies is 46 minutes from DIA by interstate. And you have to pass two trains yards to boot. Bnsf runs north from Denver along the Flatirons, and the biggest concentration of micro breweries is I. Fort Collins.

[C855B]

Caboose Hobbies. Caboose Hobbies. CABOOSE HOBBIES.

Also, http://cmrm.org/pcindex.html.

[dougnelson]

Russ:
The last time I was in Cheyenne (1980) I was on an Amtrak layover of about an hour.  Across from the station I could see the UP roundhouse, so I moseyed over there and went on in.  There was nobody anywhere to be found.  Just me and the UP historic steam collection.  I don't know if their security has improved in the last 35 years, but you should check it out.  Maybe knock first?  I'm sure if you show them your CRHS membership card they will let you in.  Membership has its priveledges.




As I headed back to my train, I found that a freight train was now between me and my train.  I climbed up and over between two cars, and as I proceeded, another freight train was coming on the next track.  As you can tell since I am now writing about this, it I did make it back to my train - barely.  Stupid kid.  But I did get some good shots in the roundhouse.

[C855B]

2015 is a far cry from 1980. I would NOT simply mosey over to the Cheyenne Heritage shops! For one thing, there is an unbelievable amount of attention focused there from the railfan community because of the Big Boy project. I would bet they get somebody knocking on their door nearly every day, "I wanna see the Big Boy!". For that alone I would not expect the red carpet to be rolled out, but also security in general is likely ramped-up.

Additionally, there have been several changes in administration of the program in those 25 years. While I'm not saying that the current staff is unfriendly or unwelcoming, they are under a lot of pressure with the Big Boy restoration, and it also has to be mentioned there is some unhappiness in the community close to the program about decisions made to facilitate the project. So they may be on edge. I personally wouldn't push it, not right now.

[basementcalling]

Russ, I did the Denver, Cheyenne thing last year this time. Sherman Hill was awesomeness. The depot and shops were disappointing in access, though there are several great places in the old station to get terrific legal shots of every train that rolls by. The area is so busy and hopping though you would be nuts to try what Doug got away with 25 years ago.
Denver just north of Coos Field has a hotel right by the BNSF yard office. Trackside rooms were no problem, and it's walking distance to the stadium and downtown. Breweries, Union Station, and such. Don't overlook the Georgetown Loop railroad. The Friday night dinner train is awesome, but very popular.