The Old Colorado Midland Doesn't Come By Here Much Anymore (NNG-ish)
| June 08, 2020 05:29PM |
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Last year I ended up having to fly out to Cleveland for some business, and I got this nutjob of an idea to save some bucks and fly out of Denver (something that the TSA would make me regret, and end up staying at DIA for another six hours), but on the way up, a year ago today, I took a trip on the Colorado Midland east out of the outskirts of Buena Vista towards Trout Creek Pass. It's not completely on the grade, as the disappearance of the numerous trestles over the years cause the mountain bike trail to be routed around the wide gaps in the fills creating some fun rides up side canyons. Here's some views of the long ago abandoned Colorado Midland as seen today (well, last year)
From the grade looking back into the Arkansas Valley and The Collegiate Range (Mt. Princeton and Mt. Antero at the least)
Looking up the grade towards Trout Creek Pass.
Looking Downgrade at a tie still left from abandonment 101 years earlier (this section has been bypassed due to the lack of a bridge across one of the canyons.)
Looking upgrade on the line (another tie appears)
One of the cuts.
From the grade looking back into the Arkansas Valley and The Collegiate Range (Mt. Princeton and Mt. Antero at the least)
Looking up the grade towards Trout Creek Pass.
Looking Downgrade at a tie still left from abandonment 101 years earlier (this section has been bypassed due to the lack of a bridge across one of the canyons.)
Looking upgrade on the line (another tie appears)
One of the cuts.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.