CMRM Part 2

Happy Happy Thanksgiving!

Now for the final entry on our 2015 Denver trip – the HO train layout at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum. I encourage those interested to check out cmrm.org for even more information (history/statistics/etc). But, I’ll do my best to describe the basics of the layout from my point of view.

The layout is set in the 1970’s. It features mining and logging operations, a city, a large town, and several smaller towns. The tracks run on several levels, and the grades are very long and gentle. There are a few freight yards with many tracks. The scenery is very very well done throughout.

Visitors also traverse multiple levels to view the layout. There is an “upstairs”, ground level, and various ramps to walk upon to follow the layout terrain. Each train in operation has its own engineer, who controls it via remote and follows it around the expansive layout. These engineers have access to human-sized tunnels that take them under the layout that provide a shortcut to various sections of the building. The whole thing is managed by a dispatcher, who works in an office separate from the train layout. On the day of my visit, the volunteer dispatcher was very busy, shuffling 12 trains (and their operators) around the layout.

The museum provides a game for visitors, which involves finding various details or hidden elements in the layout. For example, “find two red tractors”, or “find a pickup truck hauling a load of pumpkins”. This proved very challenging for me, and after 3 hours, I still had not found all of the details on the list! In seeking out these hidden things, it forced me to look very closely at each section of the layout, which only increased my appreciation of all the work that went into it.

My conclusion is that anybody visiting the Greeley, CO area should stop by the Colorado Model Railroad Museum to experience the layout and the oodles of artifacts surrounding it! Have a swell December, and keep your under-tree rails shiny!

Some Santa Fee diesels pull a colorful reefer freight over an impressive trestle. I shared this picture earlier, but it looks so nice I had to show it again

Moving day in a small town – can you tell if the family is moving “in” or “out”?

View of river detail – they did an excellent job of creating the illusion of running water

A Southern Pacific freight crosses over the river, with views of the railroadania collection in the background

A mobile logging town created for the layout

A trailer freight heads through a tunnel

Lucky Lass mine

The forest fire scene – push a button and the LED “fire” glows, followed by LOTS of smoke, followed by lights on the emergency vehicles. All of this is next to another impressive, curved trestle

An excellently crafted custom building, based on a real structure in Colorado

This view shows more of the superb scenic design, and some unsuspecting beekeepers about to get a visit from some furry forest creatures

More excellent use of water effects at this sawmill – part of the gift shop is in the background

Well-detailed city streetscape

View of another log pond

Looking down from the top of the layout’s largest mountain on one of the volunteer operators

Overview of more excellent scenery

Here’s the eastern parts of the layout from above

This curved classification yard is 10 tracks wide!

An enormous Weyerhaeuser lumber plant (enlarged by some well-placed mirrors), dwarfed by a terribly long tank train

More outstanding scenery work below a trestle

An abandoned mine complex out in the woods

The dispatcher is very busy today, with a dozen trains and operators to manage

These “iron horses” can be viewed between Loveland’s Outlet Mall and the Centerra Mall