All Aboard

It's a sad day, but not as sad as it could have been for the fanatical keepers of the O scale Colorado Midland Railroad and the smaller HO scale Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad, who've been tending to their train setups in the basement of Union Station for almost...

By Susan Froyd

April 26, 2012

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It's a sad day, but not as sad as it could have been for the fanatical keepers of the O scale Colorado Midland Railroad and the smaller HO scale Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad, who've been tending to their train setups in the basement of Union Station for almost eighty and thirty years, respectively. But with change comes adversity, and as renovations and new development ramp up at Union Station, both model railways will have to close shop for a while, bringing a temporary end to the public open houses each group has hosted for so many years. Tonight will be the last chance to visit, turning back your inner clock and acting like a happy child, for at least a couple of years.

PVWRR spokesman Chris Rand says that during the interim, his club's obsession will mostly stay in place and see only slight disruption, thanks to cooperation by the developer, and that if all goes according to plan, the most noticeable changes when the railroad reopens will be additions to the layout and better visibility for the public.

"For some short-term hardship, we see it as a long-term gain. We hope the rest of Denver embraces the project, as well as our little piece of it." Rand's motto? "See you in the summer of 2014!"

The Colorado Midland starts rolling at 6 p.m. and the PVWRR at 7 p.m. for the final Model Railroad Open House; admission is free, and kids are welcome. Union Station is at 1701 Wynkoop Street; visit http://denveroscaleclub.org or www.pvwrr.org for history and details.
Fri., April 27, 7-9 p.m., 2012

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Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

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