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The National Narrow Gauge Convention this year is in Denver August 29th through September 2nd. Although many members will be attending/hosting the convention, the Denver, South Park and Pacific Historical Society hopes to have at least one Como building, depot or roundhouse, open on Saturday and Sunday, September 2nd and 3rd. Currently there are no plans to operate the steam locomotive. The locomotive is planned to operate for Boreas Pass Railroad Day on Saturday, August 19th. As plans for the convention become more firm this thread will be updated.

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You need a "critical mass" of historical equipment to make a successful tourist destination. Extending tracks to the wye is a must. East Broadtop has a couple of dozen rotting 3 foot hoppers. Hopefully you can get at least one passenger car on lease from a museum with a large collection. It would pay to put in a small dirt airstrip and windsock in those wide open spaces. 

I think we were surprised by how much effort was required to lay the track we have.  Working at 9800' altitude is tough!  The main problem is driving spikes by hand.  We're looking at other ways to get that done.  Going to the wye involves building a small bridge/trestle and dealing with a washout.  Hopefully visitors to Boreas Pass Railroad Day and those from the convention will get us needed attention and support.

John, would you please post pictures of the latest work here? I hear the turntable is actually in, and the steam engine is due any day? I cannot access Facebook to see what is there--yes, I live in a rural area, with only dial-up available for an internet connection, and Facebook is NOT compatible with such a slow connection--but this site seems to work OK (takes time, but at least things show up!).

During the event yesterday I was able to get two others to commit to help on Saturday and Sunday, 9/2 and 9/3. We talked to DSP&PHS society president Bob Schoppe and he agreed that we can now staff the depot and roundhouse both days. We don't have exact times now but we will be staffed all day. I doubt that the locomotive will be operating. I will provide more details as we figure things out.

John thanks for posting. Although I had planed to volunteer and attend I was called in to work the entire weekend at my real job.  I will be volunteering 2 nights at the convention and 2 nights at the Lockheed Martin Ho/HOn3 club layout which is open for the convention. So they laid track from the roundhouse to the turntable, to the restored Como station,  purchased and restored a steam engine - what's next?  What are people hinting at?  Obviously they have 3 directions they could possibly go along the old roadbed - east, west, north or nowhere. Any rumors?

Kent,

The original plan is to put in more of the yard tracks starting with extending the mainline past the roundhouse and adding the passing siding that goes on the other side of the former water tank location.  As far as I know that's the current plan.  No additional work days have yet been scheduled but I expect that to happen once the convention is over.

I have more details about this coming weekend, September 2nd and 3rd, in Como.

Steam locomotive #4 will be steamed up sometime on Saturday and moved onto the turntable. This will allow the roundhouse stall #5 track to be leveled. We are looking for volunteers to help with the track work. After the work is completed I don't know if the engine will continue to be operated that day.

The engine is not planned to be operated on Sunday.

On both Saturday and Sunday the roundhouse and depot will be open for viewing.

Tommy,

Thank you for asking.  There is more than one group.  I belong to the Denver, South Park and Pacific Historical Society, www.dspphs.org.  Its address is P.O. Box 26, Buena Vista, CO 81211-0026.  We have been primarily responsible for laying the track in Como.

Another is the South Park Rail Society, www.southparkrail.com.  Its address is 2253 N. Downing. St., Denver, CO 80205.  They are responsible for the locomotive, roundhouse, and turntable.

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