Breckenridge, Fairplay, Cripple Creek

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

Buena Vista means "beautiful view." The Sawatch Range, which includes the Collegiate Peaks- Mounts Yale, Harvard and Princeton, all more than 14,000 feet in elevation- forms a backdrop for this pastoral community. An overlook 1.5 miles east of the junction of US 24 and US 285 provides a view of the range.

Often referred to as the "Whitewater Capital of Colorado," the town is one of the main gateways to the 148-mile Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area which is favored by rafters and kayakers.

Colorado Midland Railroad caboose 425.

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From Buena Vista we went back south on US 24 to US 285 then north to Rt. 91 into Breckenridge. In the mountains above Denver, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance operates the High Line Railroad Park. Its main attraction is Colorado & Southern 2-6-0 No. 9, which dates to 1884, and a rotary snow plow similar to those once used by the Denver, Leadville & Gunnison.

# 9 2-6-0, 1884, Narrow Gauge.

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Leaving Breckenridge we return to Rt. 9 south to Fairplay.

Fairplay

Fairplay was named by prospectors who settled it in 1859 when they were driven from nearby Tarryall by miners who had staked more claims than they could work. Thereafter scorned and referred to as "Grab-all," Tarryall did not survive beyond its boom times.

South Park City Museum is a restored early Colorado gold mining town typical of the 1860s to 1900s. Seven of the more than 40 buildings are on their original sites; the remaining structures were moved from deserted mining camps and ghost towns in nearby areas of Park County.

The buildings, all furnished with period articles, include a newspaper office, saloon, assay office and general store. Mining machinery also can be seen, and a narrow gauge train stands at the depot with exhibits related to the Denver, South Park & Pacific. A Porter 2-6-0 locomotive similar to those on the DSP&P is on static display, along with the Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge.

Dyer Memorial Chapel, Father John L. Dyer, "the Snowshoe Itinerant," was a Methodist circuit rider.

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Gallows Frame, miners rode the bucket down from this head frame into the shaft to load it with ore.

A reconstruction of a hard rock mine.

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South Park City Depot contains memorabilia of the three railroads that served South Park.

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2-6-0 built in 1914 is a Porter Mogul #6 and is of the basic type used by the Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad.

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Inside the caboose.

Trapper's Cabin, a simple one room dwelling that portrays the solitary life of the mountain man.

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Homestead, a small and cozy building that shows the self-sufficiency of the early pioneer family.

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The town's leading citizens and main characters.

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Stage Coach Inn.

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Bank of Alma contains many of the original fixtures, the scene of a dramatic holdup in 1935.

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J. A. Merriam Drug Store collection of drugs and remedies, reported to be one of the most complete collections of patent medicines in the United States.

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Summer Saloon built of native sandstone in 1879. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Leaving Fairplay we head southeast on Rt. 9 to US 24 then east Rt. 1. Going south on Rt. 1 took us to our next stop - Cripple Creek and the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Railroads arrived in the mining town of Cripple Creek in 1893, and today the best way to see the "World's Greatest Gold Camp" is aboard Colorado's only 2-foot gauge steam railroad, the Cripple Creek & Victor. Its colorful coal-fired locomotives take visitors on a 45-minute trip along the original roadbed of the Florence & Cripple Creek, past abandoned gold mines and mining claims that are part of the Cripple Creek Historic District. The locomotive roster includes engines of both American and German manufacture, including a rare 0-4-0 compound Mallet that once worked in Mexico.

# 2, 0-4-0, built 1948, NG (600mm).

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Arriving train waiting for departing train to clear the station.

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# 1, 0-4-4-0T, built 1902, NG (600mm).

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Today we are scoping out Cripple Creek and taking photos, next week we will return with our friends, Chris P. and Elizabeth, and ride the train.

Leaving Cripple Creek, Chris and I are on Rt. 11 to Rt. 9 and then on to Canon City and the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.

At the entrance to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.

# 499, 2-8-2, built 1930, Narrow (36").

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Hanging railroad bridge

The bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the United States. Built in 1929, the bridge spans the Royal Gorge nearly 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River.

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Traffic jams are everywhere.

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Author on bridge.

The train we have been waiting for: Royal Gorge Route Railroad.

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My birth state.

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Rafters on the river

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Chris with our home state flag.

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Leaving Royal Gorge Bridge and Park we headed for Canon City.

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Canon City's historic Santa Fe Depot where you start your 20-mile train trip through the scenic Royal Gorge.

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# 8, Shay 3-truck, built 1922 Narrow (36").

Leaving here we are back on our old friend US. 50 heading east to Pueblo.

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Just out of the paint shop. 2912, 4-8-4, built 1944, standard gauge and at the Pueblo Railway Museum.

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Pueblo station.

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Discover Space Age railroading at Pueblo.

Pueblo, location of the Association of American Railroads' Transportation Technology Center, is also the home of the Pueblo Railroad Museum. There are dozens of locomotives and cars on exhibit, including a Santa Fe 4-8-4 and one of the last remaining General Electric U30C U-boats. Not to be missed are three experimental rocket-powered railroad vehicles once put through their paces at the AAR's test track.

Volunteer workers play with all sizes of trains.

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Watching paint dry.

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What a fun place to explore and walk around the historic artifacts.

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After leaving this wonderful museum we headed north on I-25 to Denver for the night. Along the way we stopped by the Joint Line for freight train photos

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Empty coal train heading for Wyoming coal fields.

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End of coal train.

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We also made a stop in Colorado Springs.

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Colorado Springs D & RG RR station.

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Southwest of the city is The Broadmoor resort. The resort, which opened in 1916 as the "Grand Dame of the Rockies," is nestled in valley with a spectacular mountain backdrop. El Pomar Carriage Museum is at The Broadmoor resort.

# 5 at The Broadmoor Hotel - El Pomar Carriage Museum, 0-4-2 (cog), built 1901, standard gauge.

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Castle Rock south of Denver.

Continuing north on I-25 we arrived in the evening rush hour in Denver. Tonight we will be resting our heads at La Quinta, Denver Central, After checking in and getting settled I went to the Old West Pancake House for dinner which was located next door to the motel.

Thanks for reading.

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Adventurers in the Rockies

Chapter Six

Buena Vista, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Cripple Creek,

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Canon City, Pueblo,

Colorado Springs and The Broadmoor

July 6, 2016

Wednesday

by

Fairplay