Denver's Railroads - Era: 1947 to 1969

This is a map of all of the class 1 railroads that entered Denver's rail yards during the 1950s and 1960s. The map also shows the major towns that connect with each railroad. Ultimately the model layout will comprise the D&RGW line from Denver to Glenwood Springs, the D&RGW branch line to Craig and the CB&Q branch to Coors Brewery in Golden. All of the other connections shown on this map will be represented by two return loops comprising of 7 staging tracks for the West, North and North-east connections and 7 staging tracks for the South and South-east connections. The time frame is flexible and I have the rolling stock to base the era on:

• 1934 (end of Prohibition) to 1947 - ice reefers, passenger trains and 2-6-0 steam locos.
• 1947 to 1957 - passenger & freight trains pulled by steam locos (Challengers, Mountains and Pacific's).
• 1957 to 1969 - freight trains prior to Burlington Northern and passenger trains prior to Amtrak. Up to GP40/SD45 Locos.

After a rethink of the building plan in mid 2022 and again uin 2026 it was decided to build . . .

Denver's Railroads in the following 8 phases:

Phase One (Completed):

1. All of the track from Utah Junction though Pinecliff to the East portal of the Moffat Tunnel

2. All of the main lines from Utah Junction to the South Denver return loop

Phase Two (Completed):

1. The D&RGW main line from the East portal of the Moffat Tunnel to the Grand Jct. return loop

2. The 7 staging tracks of the Grand Junction return loop

Phase Three (Completed):

1. D&RGW North Yard

2. North Yard industry tracks

3. MoW Yard

Phase Four (Completed):

1. Denver Union Terminal (DUT) tracks

2. CB&Q/C&S Rice Yard tracks

3. CB&Q Engine Terminal tracks

4. C&S Intermodal Yard tracks

Phase Five (Completed):

1. D&RGW and UP Industrial Branches and industries

2. East Denver Belt Line tracks and industries

3. Denver Union Stockyard tracks

4. UP Pullman shops

5. UP Coach Yard

6. UP Main Yard

Phase Six (In Progress as at 2026):

1. DUT Station and platform kits

2. D&RGW North Yard industry kits

3. Denver Union Stockyards industry kits

4. Commerce City industry kits

5. East Denver Belt Line kits

Phase Seven (Action for 2027):

1. Re-lay the Joint Line return loop track and industrial trackage

2. Build the South Denver industry kits

3. Build Burnham Shops kits

4. Glenwood Springs station and industries

Phase Eight (Action for 2028):

1. Build the Craig Branch and industries

2. Build Coors/Golden Branch and industries

Note that this 2026 Eight Phase Action Plan is an update of the progress plan shown in the left side column. Five phases down – three to go!