Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. Prepares for Final Season Fans invited to take last ride with company's steam engines this summer GEORGETOWN - After reaching an impasse with the Colorado Historical Society, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. will end operations at the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park at the end of the 2004 season. This will mark the 30th and final year Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. has operated the tourist train. "This has been a fantastic railroad to operate and we've truly enjoyed having the opportunity to preserve railroad history for the State of Colorado. It's been a labor of love," said Mark Greksa, one of Georgetown Loop Railroad Inc.'s owners. "We're looking forward to our last season and we hope the public will join us and our unique trains in this final year." The Georgetown Loop Railroad Inc.'s final season will begin May 29 with daily trains operating until Oct. 3, 2004. The Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. is a family business that served more than 115,000 passengers from around the world last year. The family has been the only operator since the railroad was brought back to life three decades ago and helped with that restoration and rebuilding process. The same family owns and operates the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Canon City, which runs year-round. The family expects to add a third rail to the Royal Gorge Route, creating a narrow-gauge track that will accommodate the locomotives and rolling stock currently used in Georgetown. The Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. also will be taking proposals for the use of its locomotives, rolling stock and operating expertise at other routes around the country. While the track itself is owned by the state, Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. owns the unique trains visitors have enjoyed as well as the offices, ticket and gift shop facilities in Georgetown. The history of the Georgetown Railroad dates back to 1877 when silver was discovered in the mountains west of Denver. In an effort to reach the mines, early railroads began construction, first to Golden extending up Clear Creek Canyon with the intention of extending into the rich mining town of Leadville. The line never reached its goal and instead the railroad provided freight and passenger service to the mining camps between Denver and Silver Plume. Although just two miles separate the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, the elevation difference is over 600 feet. The rail line twists and turns over 4 1/2 miles of track to gain the elevation. The Devil's Gate Viaduct, 300 feet long and almost 100 feet high forms a spiral where the track actually crosses over itself. Passengers at the turn of the century hailed the railroad as the "far famed Loop", a marvel of engineering skill and the world's most complex railroad loop. Today's railroad takes visitors over the reconstructed Devil's Gate High Bridge, completed 20 years ago, which stands 95 feet above Clear Creek. The train travels between the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, both rich in mining and railroad history, through the same spectacular Colorado mountain scenery that visitors of yesteryear enjoyed. Trains will depart daily through October 3rd from two departure points at Silver Plume and Devil's Gate (Georgetown). An optional mine tour with an additional fee operates through Labor Day. The combination train and mine tour takes two and one half-hours to complete. Train reservations are taken for Devil's Gate departures only. Train rates are $16.50 for adults and $11.25 for children ages 3-15. Children under 3 are free when sitting on a parent's lap. The round-trip train ride takes approximately one hour and 10 minutes. For more information on the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad, including departure times and a history of the area, visit www.georgetownloop.com. For reservations and information call 1-800-691-4386 (outside area code 303) or 303-569-2403. For more on what to see and do in the area, go to www.georgetowncolorado.com.
I don't know why the "impasse." But if the present operator owns virtually all but land and tracks, finding someone else willing to expend the capital for re-equipping, and restarting this, could be one very difficult task. Boxcab E50
Yes, this is very sad news and I hope someone will step up and save this major piece of mountain RR history. I hope to at least take some time this summer and get in some photographs before everything is lost.
