Georgetown Loop Railroad Fall 2019

During early fall of 2019, I took a drive up to Silver Plume, CO to spend a day recording the Georgetown Loop Railroad as they went about a special day running two different passenger trains; both powered by steam! As it turns out, this weekend was record-breaking as far as passenger numbers, so an extra train was definitely needed. In this video, watch as we start off departing Silver Plume aboard newly-restored Georgetown Loop #40. Engineer Will Gant and Fireman Kevin Whilcomb gently guide the train down to Hall Tunnel for a meet. We set off there to watch the westbound train pass by, led by GLRR #111. We stay at Hall to see both trains swap positions, as #40 now guides it's train back uphill, and #111 back downhill towards Devil's Gate. We quickly follow #40 up to High Fill Curve to watch the little locomotive get after it on the steep climb towards Silver. Plume. We drop down to the area in and around Devil's Gate, as we watch #40 and #111 go through their chores of escorting hundreds of excited guests through some of the most spectacular examples in mountain railroading that Colorado has to offer. Rate Comment. Subscribe. ENJOY!!! Copyright Nick Valdez Railroad Photography 2019.

[@susanlary6968]

Number 40's whistle is a symphony in concert echoing through the mountains with her chimes!!! Baldwin #111 has my lucky number on it! Stunning video here Nick Valdez! I cannot wait to get back there time and time again!

[@trainmandan5578]

That last scene with number 40 on the bridge blowing the whistle was awesome.

[@719LifeStyle]

Gotta love the hand signals

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Wow I'm so happy to see number 40 back on her home rails I don't know how many years it's been since she last operated on the Georgetown Loop Railroad

[@jacobwoods8738]

TexasRailfan21 2004 marked the end. Then CHS had a go and RailStar came in.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

@@jacobwoods8738 Well I'm glad she's home again let alone during her stay at the Colorado Railroad Museum she got a bigger tender

[@williamgant5463]

@@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan The Tedner was built in 1997, same size as the original, with some cosmetic changes to make it look nicer. It just never was behind the engine after it went to White Pass, until about 2007/2008 when it got switched at the museum. It was using 44's tender during those years.

[@mrshea924]

@@williamgant5463 You're right! Though we can't have 12 and 14 anymore, we still have 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 15 tho check out.

[@freshfishe]

Nice video. Great shots. Really enjoyed the camera angles that you chose.

[@williamgant5463]

Interesting to watch this now, knowing this was one of the last times 111 operated for over a year. Started some running gear work in early 2020, found a whole host of problems that needed fixed, then Covid happened, and 111 didn't turn a wheel until late May 2021.

[@uropepe]

Thank You so much for this great video! I really hope to see the RR personally one day! God bless America!

[@donnamarie3617]

Excellent footage, very inspiring to an amateur modellor like me. Thanks.

[@shanewalters2565]

Glad to see 12, 40 and 111 together again;)

[@MatthewLappTrainGuy683]

I remember getting a cab ride on 40 at the Colorado Railroad Museum in 2013 on wild west days and that's when I first met you Nick

[@mathuetax]

Wow, I didn't realize the firebox extended so far in this locomotive!

[@jacobwoods8738]

mathue taxion Classic deckless cab. Most export Baldwins (built for Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, or IRCA in Guatemala of El Salvador) have this exact setup or a very similar one) as did some Indian export Baldwins.

[@dagger1-140]

Whistle sounds exactly like the whistle that my little HO NYC 2-6-0 had when i still ran models

[@orgcoast5990]

Great stuff! I had not been aware of this railroad.

[@southernrailwayfan1338]

orgcoast to bad it’s close now for ever

[@joelvale3887]

These engines were used in Central America mostly for switching purposes.

[@AlexTrain5249]

I DIDN’T KNOW 40 WAS BACK! That’s the first time she’s been there since she was leased to the White Pass and Yukon.

[@alexilauto1419]

Very ni- wait a minute.... #12? It's back!?!? YESSS!!!! (5:26)

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

Miss the old days when the steamrees had two whistles

[@crookedriver2079]

What no Shays at Georgetown Loop ? Can't be bothered if there aren't any Shays ! Well onto Roaring Camp and Mt. Rainier instead !

[@thomasweekley9209]

I feel sorry for old #12. I realize she’s underpowered compared to #40 and #111 but I still think she deserves to run

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

How often do they operate steam on this line. I was planning on going out there next year.

[@williamgant5463]

daily from Memorial day till early October.

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

Thanks

[@brianfalzon6739]

40 and 111 should be leased to visit the Durango and Silverton like they did with SP Slim Princess 18 in the future.

[@dominiquedescottes8314]

Je déteste les Western, mais a l'opposé J'ADORE LE MATERIEL DU FAR WEST LES LOCOS AVEC LE CHZSSE BOEUF,LA CHEMINEE HAUT PERCHÉ, LE PITTORESQUE DES LOCOMOTIVES LES VOITURES EN BOIS ET LEURS LANTERNEAU CETTE VIDÉO EST UNE RÉUSSITE

[@madame-rosalitaduchesse7636]

Les locos sont belles dans un paysage ou le temps est arrete. Buster keaton avec general. Ford t le french can can burlesque dans le saloon. Chief sitting bull. Les filles.....incroyablement delicieuses. ....

[@EngineerDaylight]

I wonder what happened to the shays

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

Shay 14 was up for sale, i thought it was going to Roaring Camp and Big Trees, but I think that plan fell through. Hoping all 3 shays, 8, 12, and 14 are bought someday.

[@mrshea924]

I had a vision of Cass acquiring 12 and 14, but it is standard-gauge and they cannot operate there. Hey, maybe D&GV can put a third rail in for that to happen. For Cass and/or the old Cape May Seashore Lines route, a third rail would be required.

[@mrshea924]

By the way, Strasburg 90 or 475, or a Chinese steam engine were also envisioned running on the old CSML route.

[@mrshea924]

At least for 12 and 14.

[@mrshea924]

And, oh yes, 12 should go to Cumbres & Toltec.

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@mrshea924 negative. Lower TE than a k27. Also more slower. I’d recommend IF... IF... GLRR can expand the engine house with more elbow room they have four or more steam locomotives in their engine house. If there was a narrow gauge railroad that could take the 2-6-2 prairie, that would be a start IMHO

[@rileysanesh9238]

So I see there’s Georgetown loop steam train 40,12 and 111 but where are the Georgetown loop shay steam trains like 12 and 14 then

[@jacobwoods8738]

Riley Sanesh 40 was purchased from Ashby, the other “original” Ashby era Georgetown Loop engine’s (IRCA 44, WSL Shays 8 and 14) are still at Golden, for sale. Shay 8 is on display at Canõn City. The current operators leased WSL 9 for a time, but it has been returned to Iowa and No 12 returned. 111 is a newer IRCA engine (1925 vs 1920/1921 design) and originally came to America at the same time as 40, but owned by Don Drawer whereas 40 was rescued by Ashby. 44 then came separately.

[@crookedriver2079]

​@@jacobwoods8738 What no Shays at Georgetown ? Can't be bothered if there aren't any Shays ! Well onto Roaring Camp and Mt. Rainier instead !

[@jacobwoods8738]

Crooked River Indeed, 12 and 14 haven’t run at Georgetown in 16 years, both are at Golden currently. 8 is at Cañon City on display. More recently West Side 9 was on loan as part of a swap, but that has ended. No Shays at the Loop sadly for geared enthusiasts. As an IRCA fan though, I am very happy 40 is back.

[@shanewalters4171]

@@crookedriver2079 Hey, you forgot about Cass and Durbin and Greenbier too, lol, they also have Shays. The Illinois Railway Museum also recently restored one to operation last year, Yosemite Mountain Sugar Railroad also has Shays too, there's many more that I can't list, don't get too cocky;)

[@mrshea924]

@@shanewalters4171 You're right! Though we can't have 12 and 14 anymore, we still have 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 15 to check outt.

[@evanf1293]

how long is the georgetown loop railroad on miles of track???

[@maxm4375]

Does anyone know if Georgetown loop 12 will run again?

[@shanewalters2565]

She's been stored operable for quite a while from the time this video was recorded ever since she got bought back from Threshers, so there's a good chance she'll run again sometime this year or so

[@farmerdave7965]

What's the history of these locos ?

[@williamgant5463]

Both 40 and 111 are ex F I de C A (IRCA or international railways of central america). Built by baldwin in 1920 and 1926. Came back stateside together in 1973 after being bought by 2 different Americans trying to start or run tourist railroads. 40 operated in central city until 1978 before coming to the loop and running from 1978 till 2004, though spending 2001/2002 at White pass in alaska and a year in durango in the early 90s for running gear work. From 2004 till 2017 it was stored, and occasionally run at the Colorado railroad museum in Golden, before being bought and returning to the loop in April 2017. After 2 years of work she reentered service on July 4, 2019. 40 is unique in the fact that she has never spent much time out of service since she was built. In fact the 6 years from 2013 to 2019 was the longest she was ever out of service that I know of. 111 never ran after being brought stateside, nor did it run before either. Went to sundown and southern in Hudson, Colorado. A railroaf school/camp that never got going. Went to display in Breckenridge in 2002, removed for rebuilding in 2006. Sat dismantled for years before finally coming to the loop in 2011. Work started in about 2013/2014, entered service in late 2016. At which point she had not run in over 50 years.