January-February-March 2011 Issue #65 Nationally-known rail leader: Back track for Amtrak in Denver Union Station Gene Skoropowski to speak at ColoRail winter meeting -- At 8:02 p.m. on February 3rd, the waiting room (formerly the Light March 5th - Englewood last Amtrak train pulled out of Bulb Supply Co.). Train 5 of that Denver Union Station on Track 1 morning had been canceled due to Community Center/Library with conductor Brad Swartzwelter the aftermath of the Midwest at Englewood Station in charge. 22 hours later, Train 6 blizzard. The well-appointed was parked on new Track 8 and building is about half the size Doors open 10:30 a.m. passengers were making their way needed to handle peak loads during Meeting starts 10:45 a.m. across Wewatta Street to the new the next three to four years. Temporary Amtrak location is downhill on Wewatta Street from Park Avenue West viaduct. The one-story building is to right of roadway, beneath the 20th Street HOV viaduct; new platform and Track 8 are to left of roadway. -- Photo by Bob Brewster. “A Voice for Colorado’s Rail Passengers” Page 2 Will the new tun- nel just be a big bore? Tunnel was “in the way” The ColoRail Passenger normally tures and demolished to make way ColoRail board member Edie Bryan avoids nostalgia, but an objective for a new era of rail transportation. orchestrated a fitting farewell to our look at the well-utilized pedestrian While we should be thankful for the tunnel on Sunday, February 6. tunnel under Denver Union Station new rail era, we are left with a num- Channel 9 was in attendance to compels attention to this now lost ber of questions about how our plan- mark the occasion. We all owe Edie part of our history. ners and "deciders" accomplish the our heartfelt gratitude in celebrating coming era. Does it reflect poorly on the passing of a piece of Denver's Tunnels are more noted for their utili- us that a historically- designated tarian purposes rather than their de- "buried treasure." Thanks, Edie! symbol of Denver's past transporta- cor. They're built to avoid some- Bob Brewster is a former Vice- thing. Our former pedestrian tunnel tion achievements will exist only in President of ColoRail and partici- at Denver Union Station served that photographs, books, and fading, pated in the Union Station planning purpose for almost 100 years: a con- fragile memories? process when permitted to do so. duit for travelers , coming and going Decisions were made that deemed by rail. It was a Spartan, all- our tunnel "in the way of progress." business facility, passing beneath ColoRail Board and But must progress trample on the behemoth steel girders whose as- Colorado NARP Council past if it is avoidable? Could our signments were to support the Members: existing, functional tunnel have been weight of hissing iron monsters, later (with telephone numbers) modified once again to continue its and <e-mail addresses> throbbing diesels, towing their cars public duty and serve as a reminder of human cargo and precious mail of things past - upon which the future Ira Schreiber, President, and express to and from places near is built? We shall never know, shall Aurora (303-750-4507). <[email protected]> and far. we? The walls of white glazed brick Why do we so often fail to respect, Bob Brewster, Board Member, looked sanitary, the floor, well, it Boulder. acknowledge, and preserve the ac- could have used some gussying-up, <[email protected] > complishments of those who came but it worked as designed. All but a before us as we address the same Edie Bryan, Board Member, Lakewood. few of the portals to long-gone plat- mobility challenges in the coming <[email protected]> forms are bricked over. The west era? end got chopped back about a dec- Helen Bushnell, Board Member, Boulder. ade ago to accommodate new light Our tunnel's portals ushered people <[email protected]> rail services, almost exactly where to wars and weddings, funerals and Elia Fisher, Secretary, Denver. juice-powered interurbans once festivities - in much simpler times. <[email protected]> called. But the tunnel did its job ad- No virtual strip searches, no garment and shoe removals. Jay Jones, Treasurer, Denver. mirably, it kept people from crossing <[email protected]> active station tracks to reach their Just dinner in the diner; after all, trains. And it kept them dry as trains nothing could be finer. We shall Jay Jones, NARP Council Member, rumbled overhead. Denver. miss that connection, that symbol of <[email protected]> Our tunnel will be stripped of its fix- our origins as we peer into the fu- ture. Eric Miller, NARP Council Member, Highlands Ranch. Commuters already are com- <[email protected]> plaining about closure of the James Souby, Vice-President, Denver. tunnel, Amtrak customers are <[email protected]> learning to find the temporary waiting room, but next to learn ————————————–-- the hard way that the tunnel is Robert Rynerson, Newsletter Editor, Denver. (720-570-0647) gone will be Rockies fans. <[email protected]> The new underground bus ————————————–-- concourse now under con- ColoRail, the Colorado Rail Passenger Association, is in correspondence and struction will replace this func- coordinates with NARP, the National tion, but drawings show that it Association of Railroad Passengers. has an institutional or airport Membership in both organizations is look reminding of the 1960’s. encouraged. Page 3 Easy to get Californians will never ride trains? to Englewood It has a nice ring to it: to Englewood March 5th meeting will be Gene Corridor Joint Powers Authority and by train! ColoRail will once again Skoropowski. He is known a former NARP Director. hold a general meeting in the (large) throughout the transit and rail indus- Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., with Community Room at the city’s com- tries for his success at developing refreshments laid out. Business will bined city hall, community center, the weakest of the California state- begin at 10:45 a.m. The meeting is gallery and library adjacent to Engle- sponsored Amtrak routes into a thriv- expected to continue after the wood Station. ing service with many uses (San speaker’s presentation with updates Featured speaker for the Saturday, Jose - Oakland - Martinez - Sacra- on legislation and a discussion of mento - Sierras). And that was ac- ColoRail activities until 1:30 p.m. complished while dealing with the Nominating legacy of a railroad that seemed to Englewood’s Community Center at take delight as the top company in 1000 Englewood Parkway may be committee at work the West for obstructing passenger accessed on weekends by the D- service (Southern Pacific). All the Line and bus Rtes 0, 12, and 27. The ColoRail Board would like to while, critics were claiming that Cali- Located at the site of former Cinder- invite you to nominate yourself and/ fornians will never ride trains. ella City, the center and adjacent or others for the ColoRail board of shopping and restaurants draw cus- directors. Directors serve for two Skoropowski is now working with the tomers from neighboring cities to this years. Four board positions will be HNTB Corporation, and is the former Transit-Oriented Development. Managing Director of the Capitol open for election in 2011. Nomi- Nearby parking is also available. nees must be members of ColoRail in good standing. If you are nomi- nating someone else, first please Grand Junction group tackles landmark station secure their permission. The Nomi- nating Committee will be develop- and veterans’ health issues in restoration project ing a slate of candidates for mem- bership approval at the Annual “We will bring the two together. Veterans will be employed to repair and Meeting in May 2011. (Specific mid- restore the Grand Union Depot to its former glory and splendor. The un- month date to be announced.) skilled laborers will be offered opportunities for training and the veterans skilled in construction, brickwork, electrical and other trades will work to- The deadline for nominations is gether under the non profit Operation Revamp, Inc to carry out the exten- March 15, 2011. Nominations will sive restoration of the station. Healing will take place. also be permitted from the floor at the annual meeting, but again we “During the second phase of the project an art studio, with wood and metal ask that you secure the approval of workshops will be established in the freight area of the building for use by the candidate to be nominated. veterans and military families suffering from PTSD, TBI and other emo- tional issues. Catharsis is a tremendous therapeutic tool and is easily ac- Nominations may be sent to the cessed through art. The art studio will continue to develop as the renova- Don Zielesch of the Nominating tions continue in the main depot culminating with a public art gallery and Committee at [email protected] or gift shop. Quiet space will be available for alternative therapy. by US Mail at Ste. 271, 1550 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80202. “The refurbishing and restoration will take from 5 to 10 years. Those work- ing on this project will be invited to become part of a team who will provide free or low cost remodeling and renovation services to veterans and mili- Pueblo Hub Developing tary families in the area. They will continue to be part of the Depot and will The week of February 14th saw have an office in the building. the Greyhound station operation “Museums and permanent collections will be installed in the former in Pueblo relocated to the city’s women’s lounge and men’s smoking room.