[RITSlist] The Rock in Denver

Fri Mar 7 13:59:12 CST 2008

Todd,
I may have some additional info for you - but first off do what Norm suggests, and
try to check in at the main office.  Never a good idea to go randomly tramping
around someones back yard.

I grew up and worked in the Denver area - about 7 or so years ago.. 2001 I was
dispatched to track down a 2nd hand gas regulator for an RV - so I went to a place
called "Cherokee RV" - glorified junkyard back then - but also on the site was an
old red overpainted Frisco SW1500(?).  The nice lady who worked at the RV place
also lived in a Trailer on-site.  Turns out the locaton also doubled as the DRIR
'engine-house'.

Then I moved to Alaska, few years pass, but headed back to Denver in June of 2007 -
On the last day I had in town, decided to go around to all the RI locations that I
remembered.  Went to the old Cherokee RV place - all the old RV's had been cleared
out, but now the facility was marked with the DRIR logo - on the shop on a few
vehicles, and there were a pair of Rock Island Blue locos in the 'yard'.
(Saw a shot of one at this address http://ra.nilenet.com/~wlg/Rocky/news.htm ).

Some greasmonkey guy was out working on one of the engines - I waited by my car
till he noticed me, and waved over. - I stated who I was, what I was in town for,
and that I had been there previously and remembered the place as the DRIR engine
shops.  He then stated that he was Tom Mars - (DRIR President), and is used to
ralfans checking out the place, and that he doesnt mind talking with them.  Some of
the interesting info he passed along (as I recall):
- DRIR is doing better with increased carloadings
- They now have a tank car cleaning service
- They now have a transloading station - over by Sandown junction area
- They traded with UP to get some more yard space, for UP having the right to use
the old RI main, and that UP will eventually like to reconnect the RI main with the
UP-KP main at Sandown junction - so the UP coal trains can leave Denver on the KP
in a more efficient manner. - currently the RI main dead-ends right under I-70
after the transload facility.

General suggestion for you before your trip - Google Earth is Very usufull - and
you can see locations like in the link above where the DRIR engine is switching
along the old stockyards along National Western Drive/Franklin Street.

Also if you see Tom Mars - tell him he still has an offer for an Alaskan fishing trip.

Cheers!
Matt L.
Anchorage

> The Denver Rock Island Railroad operates the ex-RI trackage in the Denver CO area
plus some additional ex-DRGW and DUS trackage.  Their headquarters is at 3400
East 56th Avenue in Commerce City CO.  Stop by their office (behind Mars Steel)
and get permission and locations for their locos.
>     Norm Metcalf, Boulder Colorado
>
> todd p wrote:
>>   I was curious about the Rock Island in Denver. I
>> will be going out there for engineer training and
>> figured I would explore the west end.
>>   I think it was on this list where there was a
>> discussion about a switching line called the Rock
>> Island & Denver ( or is that backwards?) and that it
>> was still working at that time at least.Does anyone
>> have some info on this?
>>   Thanks in advance, I hope to get some pictures while
>> I am there and will hopefully get some shots across
>> Kansas on the Kyle.
>
>
>
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