What remains to see in Clear Creek area

[Martin Wade]

We are vacationing in a couple weeks in Reverend's Ridge Campground in Golden Gate State Park (near Black Hawk/Central City).  Hope to spend time in Black Hawk, Central City, Idaho Springs, and around original Forks Creek area.  While many of the books show great pictures of historic sites still visible in the later 1900s and early 2000s am curious what is still in the towns and out on the trails today.   I have seen Keith Pashina's posts on the Gilpin area trails so that gives me a good start in that area.   I will of course google for current museums and sites open for viewing.  
Just thought I might get some guidance from this group on some still available must see sites either still in the towns or out on the trails.  Mines, mills, other structures.

Thanks for any suggestions.  

Martin

[Kurt Maechner]

Hi Martin,
I don't know much on mills, but here are a few RR sites:

There is track laid again on the C&S grade off of Spring Street in Central City along with a handful of rolling stock for some planned tourist railroad.

No. 71 and combine 20 are on display at a casino in Central City.

No. 60, of course, is still on display in Idaho Springs (minus coach 70 which is up in Silver Plume right now).

The new recreational paths in Clear Creek allow you to walk on the old C&S grade or see it from the other side of the creek at many spots now. I have some maps that show where the grade is/was as compared to the present highway in the canyone. If you're interested, let me know and I can send them along.
Kurt

Below are a few videos related to the above that I made from our visits:

[drgwcs]

Kind of interesting timing- I was playing around in Google Earth planning my "dream Colorado trip" not too long ago. I actually pulled  addresses off Google Earth- here is some stuff that was on my planning list- this was in Idaho Springs, and Georgetown.

Argo Tunnel
2350 Riverside Dr.
Idaho Springs, CO 80452

number 60
1711 Miner St, Idaho Springs, CO 80452

Boiler works
1242 Idaho St

Idaho Springs historical society
2060 Miner Street, Idaho Springs, CO

Stanley Mines
500 Stanley Rd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452

Idaho springs station
2505 Chicago Creek Rd
Idaho Springs, Colorado

Empire Jct station
14984 U.S. Hwy 40
empire colorado
This one might be rather hard to get pics of

Georgetown
Station building
14984 U.S. Hwy 40
The brick building across the street was the hay grain dealer

Old Missouri firehouse
1004 Taos St Georgetown

Hotel DeParis
409 Sixth St, Georgetown, CO 80444

Old mill
410 Third St
Georgetown, Colorado

[Martin Wade]

Thanks to both Kurt and Jim for your responses.  Definitely the type of info I was looking for.  I also heard from Keith on a PM with additional info beyond his great posts on the Gilpin Tram area.  
Really appreciate the extra info shared.   Can't wait for our trip and "walking back in time" during our vacation.

Martin

[drgwcs]

I know there were some other museums that I did not get included- especially like the Colorado RRM. Another place I want to go is to the depot museum in Cheyenne where Harry Brunks layout is at.  

[Martin Wade]

I have been to the Colorado RR museum multiple times.  Always great.  Last time got pics of the Grand Girls in front of the Rotary Snow Machine.   They were so tiny compared to the blades.
And I was lucky enough to score a trip to some relatives in Wyoming and we headed down for a day at the Cheyenne Depot and the infamous Brunk Layout.   Captured lots of photos.
There might be a Regional NMRA Meet up there next year that I hope to attend.   And then the NNGC is back in Denver in a couple years too.

Take care,

Martin

[drgwcs]

Martin Wade wrote

I have been to the Colorado RR museum multiple times.  Always great.  Last time got pics of the Grand Girls in front of the Rotary Snow Machine.   They were so tiny compared to the blades.
And I was lucky enough to score a trip to some relatives in Wyoming and we headed down for a day at the Cheyenne Depot and the infamous Brunk Layout.   Captured lots of photos.
There might be a Regional NMRA Meet up there next year that I hope to attend.   And then the NNGC is back in Denver in a couple years too.

Take care,

Martin

Hope you have a great trip. I have wanted to go back for years but never managed it and now live even further away in Virginia. My wife does have an aunt in Colorado Springs that we have wanted to go see but it is quite a way and hard for me to get away longer than a week.
Enjoy your trip!

[Martin Wade]

I have been pouring through the posts by Keith Pashina and the USGS map on the mine locations, and a pdf of The Gilpin Railroad Tour booklet they did in 2000.
I stumbled on the mention of the "Shrine" being a couple of Gilpin Railroad ties on the road to the Saratoga Mines along the Saratoga Branch.
I believe I identified the Tailings from the Saratoga mines and there are only a couple roads in the area and one would cross the branch line.   Can anyone confirm where this is exactly, if I'm remotely close, and of course if it still exists.

There is a large area picture and one zoomed in.
On both #1 marks the Saratoga Mines (I think)
and Blue line marks apparent branch roadbed (I think).
So is the road it crosses the location of the ties?

I could be terribly wrong on this.