Where did the Train go??

Almost all of the equipment from the Central Park train has left Central Park! The only piece of equipment remaining at this time is Caboose 04990.

Denver and Rio Grande Coach 280 left Central Park in 1999. Following a complete operational restoration (see below), the Coach has been staying at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, where it is less susceptible to damage. The coach is used in service on some of the museum's operating days.

Locomotive #30 and its tender left Central Park on August 26th, 2004, bound for Strasburg, Colorado. There, Uhrich Locomotive works will complete a $70,000 cosmetic restoration funded by a $50,000 grant from the Colorado Historical Society, along with $16,000 in matching funds from the City of Boulder and $5,000 in matching funds from the Boulder County Railway Historical Society and the Denver South Park and Pacific Historical Society. Information about the move can be found here:
 

More information, as well as updates on the restoration, can be found below.

Why is engine #30 in Central Park?

In 1951, the citizens and businesses of Boulder came together to save a unique piece of Boulders history, Colorado & Northwestern steam locomotive #30, from the scrappers torch. The Colorado & Northwestern was a narrow gauge railroad that ran west up Boulder Canyon to Ward and Eldora. Today, the remaining portion of the Switzerland Trail of Americas grade is better known as a hiking and biking trail. The citizens and businesses of Boulder gave generously to a public fundraising campaign and the locomotive, a passenger coach and a caboose were purchased from the railroads that owned them at the time. The train was presented to the City of Boulder as a gift, and placed in Central Park.

Locomotive #30s dedication ceremony, August 1953 in Central Park.

 

 

 

What will we do?

With a project as large as the fully operational restoration of a steam locomotive, it is most feasible to do it in phases. Previous work on the locomotive has included removing the asbestos boiler lagging (insulation) in 1999 and a mechanical evaluation in 2000.

The first phase of restoring the locomotive will be to perform cosmetic work to stabilize #30 and make it a presentable display. Some minor mechanical work will also be included. Work in this phase will be planned so that it will not have to be undone later, that is it will be items that need to be done as part of a full restoration to running condition and will not be in the way of future work. Future phases will work towards a fully operational restoration.

At the end of phase I, we will have a displayable locomotive that can be rolled with out causing damage, as well as a better idea of what work will be needed to fully restore #30 to operating condition. One of the main goals of the restoration project was not to have the locomotive disassembled for many years while raising funds to fully restore it. $70,000 in funds have been allocated towards this task.

#30 on the Colorado & Northwestern between 1898 and 1901. A JB Sturtavant photo.

 

What has been accomplished so far?

In 1996, the City of Boulder began a project to restore the train after over 50 years as an outdoor display. A citizens committee was formed to plan the project. The Boulder County Railway Historical Society is a non profit organization formed in 1997 to assist the city with the restoration project.

When the Central Park Train Restoration Project began in 1996, it was decided to prioritize the work based upon the condition of each piece of equipment. The passenger coach was in the most precarious condition, so it was chosen to be the first to be restored, starting in 1999. For those who remember the coach as a decrepit display in Central Park, a surprise is in store! Coach #280 has been fully restored and is now an operational showpiece. The next project was to stabilize the locomotive to prevent further deterioration. About the same time, BCRHS volunteers began working on the caboose and have been slowly restoring it in Central Park. Locomotive #30s tender was chosen as the second major project in 2000. In 2003, the tender was returned to Central Park in operational condition. Shortly after the tender's return to Central Park, both #30 and its tender left Central Park for Strasburg. More information is available on our restoration page via the link at left.

Coach 280's interior before restoration, in 1996.

Coach 280's interior following restoration. May, 2001.