Heritage Rio Golden Train

Dick · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:15 pm

IÂ’ve run across information that says Â“steam return(ed) to the rails at Heritage SquareÂ”(west of Denver) in 1998, with Rio Golden engine #463. I canÂ’t find anything further on the internet, and am wondering if this operation continues today. Anyone have any info?

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2004 9:39 pm

Here's more information.

http://www.heritagesquare.info/businesses/train.html

Heritage Rio Golden Train
eledbetter@rypn.org

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:15 pm

Note the info on this site is slightly wrong. Magic Mountain (basically a 1950's Wild West tourist trap) did get off the ground and did operate ex-RGS 2-8-0 42 for at least a couple of years. The engine was converted to burn oil, which dripped out of the firebox and caused at least a couple of fires. Magic Mountain went bust about 1960 and lay dormant until the 1970s. The three-foot gauge RR was converted to two-foot in the 1970s and used a couple of German 0-4-0Ts and a little Plymouth gas-mechanical. This operation also quit after a few years, until the current 5/12 scale narrow gauge operation was started.

> Here's more information.

>
> http://www.heritagesquare.info/businesses/train.html

Magic Mountain - 1959
ryarger@rypn.org

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:18 pm

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00012570+OP-12570
ryarger@rypn.org

Dick · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:25 am

> Here's more information.

>
> http://www.heritagesquare.info/businesses/train.html

Yes, this is the web site from which I got my original info and thus my question since it's dated in 1998, six years ago. And I can't find any more recent information as to its operation (or non-operation) today.

Roger Mitchell · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2004 12:50 pm

The little 2 foot gauge Plymouth critter that the High Country Railroad had was a diesel. It was powered by a 2-71 Detroit (GM) diesel engine. I can remember I was there one day when someone tripped the air door on the blower and it wouldn't start until I reset it.
Roger Mitchell
Master Mechanic
Fort Collins Municipal Railway.

n0mcr@netzero.com

Jeff B · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 11:13 am

> Yes, this is the web site from which I got
> my original info and thus my question since
> it's dated in 1998, six years ago. And I
> can't find any more recent information as to
> its operation (or non-operation) today.

The train at heritage square is still running but it is pulled by a gas powered critter. The owner is Ed Dickkens. He will be going to Canada to run the steam program for the C.N. he will be leaving on May 24. I do not know if the train will be running but I belive it wil be. He was using a Ulrich Locomotive Co. K-27 #463 but understood the rent was pretty steep. The operation uses really nice scaled replicas of D&RGW Gondolas.

Rembering back to the old days of 2' gauge operation, I really had fun there and recall the "Ant" diesel as it was named in its Bi-Centennial paint scheme. I ran the #9 there many times along with Stuart Andersons 0-8-0ST. Last rode and visited in 1992. The Henschel #9 is up in Nevada City, California and was servicable until a couple years ago on the Nevada County Traction Company.

Jeff

btflco@juno.com

Dick · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:18 pm

Many thanks to all for the information!

Ed Kelley · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:18 pm

The Rio Golden gave back its Uhrich 5-1/2" scale #463 and they are now using a rather crude diesel "critter". Apparently the #463 was in bad shape when it returned and it was last undergoing a rebuild at the Uhrichs. Also, a 2ft gauge Shay operated at the Rio Golden (I have pictures) which was from the Good Roads Construction Company. That locomotive now runs at the Foster Brook and State Line RR, Bradford, PA owned by Doug Kuntz. Pictures in the Two Footers newsletter. The #463 was always and still is owned by Marlin Uhrich and its "home road" is the Comanche Crossing & Eastern Railroad in Strasburg, Colorado.

gtngrr@aol.com