3 Sections of Relaid C&S track in Clear Creek Canyon
Here is a look at 3 places you can find C&S rails relaid on the original roadbed along the Clear Creek Line. Since the line was abandoned in 1941 a few spots of relaid rails have sprung up. Some were laid and then removed, but in 2025, there are three:
1. A short segment constructed for a proposed tourist route out of Central City. The rails were laid starting in 2021. A good amount of rolling stock is on site and a locomotive was purchased (though I don't know of its whereabouts). There is a lot of mystery as to what became of this attempt.
2. In Idaho Springs a curved section of track rests on the roadbed (or awfully close as someone has pointed out) to display C&S 2-8-0 No. 60 and coach No. 70. Coach 70 is presently up at Silver Plume for cosmetic restoration work.
3. Between Georgetown and Silver Plume, the famous Georgetown Loop was entirely rebuilt between 1973 and 1984. This successful tourist line has been hauling passengers since 1975.
Re: 3 Sections of Relaid C&S track in Clear Creek Canyon
There was even more track in Idaho Springs briefly in March of 1987 when the 60 and coach were moved. Temporary track was laid from the original display site (which was on original C&S track) to the present site, following the original alignment.
Re: 3 Sections of Relaid C&S track in Clear Creek Canyon
Administrator
Thanks, Todd! Those were the days. Tomorrow, I have a long, long overdue hernia surgery to repair years of of a life well lived, dragging chains around like the ghost of Jacob Marley visiting Scrooge.
Is that Lindsay Ashby in the second photo standing next to the man sitting on the rail? His thin, tall stature, and white hair seems to make it look like him.
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