July 24th: Georgetown – North Platte: no cycling

Autor: Tim Goodall

Today we start our journey back east. Mark had left very early to return to Idaho and before we set off we bought tickets for a ride on the old Georgetown to Silver Plume loop railroad that was built for the mines in 1884. As a narrow gauge railway it was abandoned in 1938 and restored for tourism in 1984.

Tickets from the Georgetown end were sold out but there were plenty available at the Silver Plume end. We got on the 11:25 hoping to have an hour before the forecasted rain started but it struck early and was so heavy that the guard let us out of the open carriage into the old guards van. The rain did us a favour because the guards van is usually reserved for small groups for $300 and we got in on a $30 dollar ticket. Not only that, John and I and another couple were allowed to climb up onto four special seats with sliding windows above the roof of the van for an excellent vantage point.

Back at the station we had a quick look at Silver Plume and found a cafe for a drink and a cake before setting off on the motorway. We drove for about five hours across eastern Colorado and into Nebraska as far as North Platte. We had dinner at a Ruby Tuesday before checking in at a Quality Inn for the night. There was just one bit of excitement one the journey. After Denver we were heading towards dark skies and we ran into a huge rainstorm that stopped some people on the hard shoulder and slowed us down to 25mph and then suddenly there was a flash and tremendous crash a split second later as a bolt of lightening struck on the other side of the motorway opposite us.

Silver Plume station
The steam engine from the Georgetown end.
Steam engine change ends and left.
A restored first class carriage in the museum….
and passenger.
Trains crossing at the halfway point.
Very slowly over the old viaduct.
Silver Plume cafe. Only open Fri. to Sun. Not surprising when you see the rest of the town.
Silver Plume one way….
and the other way.

27 Gedanken zu „July 24th: Georgetown – North Platte: no cycling“

  1. Paul Gibbins Antworten

    All sounds and looks very interesting Tim, fantastic journey on the narrow gauge railway. What encountering black bears and now the downpour and the lightning you three Amigos are certainly having a colourful journey!.
    The Ruby Tuesday restaurant is that anyway connected to the song?.
    Anyway, enjoy the rest of your holiday, keep safe…..Paul

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