Georgetown Loop Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Georgetown Loop Railroad |
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Train on the Georgetown Loop Railroad, about 1885.
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| Locale | Georgetown, Colorado |
| Terminus | Silver Plume, Colorado |
| Commercial operations | |
| Original gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Colorado Historical Society |
| Operated by | Historic Rail Adventures, LLC |
| Reporting mark | GLRX |
| Length | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1877 |
| Closed | 1938 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1984 | Reopened |
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Georgetown Loop Railroad
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| Nearest city | Silver Plume, Colorado |
| Built | 1877 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000909 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1970 |
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The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a special train ride in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It's a "narrow gauge" railroad, meaning its tracks are closer together than regular train tracks.
This fun tourist train travels between the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. The trip is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long. Along the way, the train climbs 640 feet (195.1 m) up the mountainside. You'll see cool bridges called trestles and amazing turns, including a big loop!
The railroad is close to I-70. You can find the Silver Plume train station right next to the highway. There's also a special parking area called Georgetown Loop Overlook. From here, you can get great views of the train. A path called the Clear Creek Greenway Trail connects the stations and the overlook. You can walk or bike on this trail.
Contents
History of the Georgetown Loop Railroad
The Georgetown Loop Railroad was one of the first big attractions in Colorado. It was built by the Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railway. This amazing part of the railroad was finished in 1884. People thought it was an incredible feat of engineering for its time.
Connecting Mining Towns
The busy mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume were only 2 miles (3.2 km) apart. But they were in a very steep canyon. To connect them, engineers designed a winding, corkscrew-shaped route. This made the track nearly twice as long. It also helped the train slowly climb over 600 feet (183 m) in height. The route had sharp curves and four bridges over Clear Creek. One of these was the huge Devil's Gate High Bridge.
The Georgetown, Breckenridge, and Leadville Railroad was part of the Union Pacific Railroad starting in 1881. The "Loop" section was the most impressive part. It crossed the top of the canyon on a 95-foot (29 m) tall bridge.
Serving the Silver Boom
This railroad was first built in the 1870s and 1880s by the Colorado Central Railroad. It was used a lot during the Colorado Silver Boom of the 1880s. Trains carried silver ore from the mines in Silver Plume. Later, in 1893, the Colorado and Southern Railway took over the line. They ran passenger and freight trains until 1938.
Between 1906 and 1918, the Georgetown Loop connected with another railway. This was the Argentine Central Railway in Silver Plume. Tourists could then continue their journey to the top of Mount McClellan. The Argentine Central also served several large silver mines.
The original train line was taken apart in 1939. But in the 1980s, it was rebuilt. Now, it runs during the summer as a tourist train. It uses old steam locomotives to carry passengers.
Rebuilding the Historic Railroad
In 1959, the Colorado Historical Society created the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park. This was 100 years after gold was found in Georgetown. The Society received donations of land and old mining sites.
Bringing the Loop Back to Life
People became interested in restoring the Loop as a tourist attraction in the 1970s. Work on building new tracks began in 1973. The Union Pacific Railroad even donated tracks and ties. A new high bridge was built to look just like the old one.
The original train station in downtown Georgetown could not be reached anymore. So, the new track ended at Devil's Gate. This spot is about three-quarters of a mile southwest of Georgetown.
The 3-mile (4.8 km) restored section opened on March 10, 1984. It climbs about 640 feet (195 m) between the two towns. Passengers can get on the train at stations in Silver Plume and Devil's Gate.
Exploring the Lebanon Silver Mine
The train ride also offers an exciting extra adventure. You can take an optional walking tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine. This mine is halfway along the railroad. Visitors can walk 500 feet (152 m) into a mine tunnel dug in the 1870s. Guides will show you where rich silver veins once were. They will also tell you stories about the mine's history.
Challenges and Comeback
The Loop ran smoothly for 30 years after it was rebuilt. But in 2004, there were problems with the company running the train. The Colorado Historical Society looked for a new operator. They chose a company called Railstar, Inc.
Difficult Times for the Railroad
After Railstar took over, the Loop faced many difficulties. There were no steam locomotives for a while. Some trains even went off the tracks, which led to investigations. Equipment often broke down, closing the railroad for days. This happened during the busiest tourist times. Because of these problems, the number of riders dropped a lot. It went from 130,000 riders per year to only 51,000. Many local businesses and train fans were unhappy.
One example of these problems happened in 2006. An old steam locomotive, Colorado and Southern Railway #9, was fixed up to run again. But Railstar made it pull trains that were too long and heavy. This badly damaged the locomotive. It stopped working after less than one summer season. Locomotive #9 had to be put back on display.
A New Beginning
In 2009, the Colorado Historical Society ended its contract with Railstar. They chose a new company, Historic Rail Adventures LLC, to run the railroad. This company is still in charge today.
Since then, things have gotten much better. The railroad is more reliable, and more people are riding the train. Three steam engines are now working again, bringing back the historic feel of the Georgetown Loop.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Clear Creek County, Colorado
- List of Colorado historic railroads
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
