Trains and Cars and Wagons and Floods

Clear Creek, running high and lined with trees. Low clouds obscure the top of Mt. Zion in the background. — *Golden Eye Candy – Frank Hanou – The Missing Mountain – enlarge*

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GOLDEN TODAY?

8AM-1PM Golden Farmers Market @ Golden Library west parking lot
8AM Saturday Morning Run and Social Walk @ Golden History Park
10AM-noon Breakfast Burritos @ The Golden Mill
10AM-3PM Brunch at the Rose @ Buffalo Rose

10AM-3PM Saturday Train Rides @ Colorado Railroad Museum

10AM-3PM Chrome for a Cause @ Golden Pond Retirement Community

10AM-2PM Homestead Open House @ Golden History Park
10:15AM Family Time @ Golden Library
12-12:30PM Quick Class: Bon Appetit Let’s Eat Beets @ Natural Grocers
1-3PM PAWS for Reading @ Golden Library
1-4PM Wild West Pub Crawl

2-4PM Closing Reception for the Kids Kamp Quilt Show @ Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
7-8PM Ecstatic Dance with live DJ @ PranaTonic

SEE THE COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

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LIVE MUSIC

11AM-2PM Haven Slay @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
11:30AM Gabriel Coda @ Tributary Food Hall
4-8PM Jewel & The Rough @ Wrigley’s
5-8PM Live Music @ Eddy Taproom
5:30-8:30PM Blake and Friends @ Goosetown Station

7-9PM Kenny Lee Young @ Morris & Mae
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern

GOLDEN HISTORY MOMENT

Narrow gauge railroad tracks at the entrance to Clear Creek canyon — *Railroad tracks at the Golden entrance to Clear Creek canyon – Dan Abbott Collection – enlarge*

In 1909, the quickest and most reliable way to travel or send freight from Golden to the mountain towns was the Colorado and Southern Railroad. Originally called the Colorado Central Railroad, it traveled through Clear Creek Canyon to Black Hawk, Central City, Idaho Springs, and Georgetown. A few automobiles had arrived on the scene by that time, but neither the cars nor the roads were reliable enough to make mountain trips safe.

The railroad allowed residents of the mountain towns to travel to the flatlands–and to the rest of the world. It also opened the mountains for tourism. Excursions were popular for people wanting to see the mountains or wildflowers or the Georgetown Loop.

A coal-powered passenger train makes its way through Clear Creek canyon. Clear Creek flows next to the tracks. — *Passenger train in Clear Creek Canyon – L-583-Denver Public Library-Special Collections – enlarge*

Unfortunately, the railroad had been built fairly close to the level of the Creek, and several times over the years, floods washed out tracks and even bridges. One of those events happened in 1909.

114 Years Ago
The July 8, 1909 Colorado Transcript reported that several cloudbursts had caused flooding in the canyon, and “at least six or seven miles of track and roadbed [had] been washed out.” There was a big convention in Denver at that time, and many of the participants had booked day trips to the mountains.

Some of the passengers were actually on the way down, but the railroad stopped the trains at Forks Creek.

…had they been allowed to proceed down the canon it is likely they would have been caught by the torrent in one of the narrowest portions, and great loss of life would have resulted.

A group of well-dressed people pose in front of a seam locomotive in Clear Creek Canyon. A brass band, in uniform with instruments, in included in the crowd. — *A group of excursionists stopped at hanging rock in Clear Creek canyon. CHS-B45 History Colorado, Buckwalter Collection, Book I, no. 46 – enlarge*

The main flood happened on Sunday, with more rain falling on Monday. As of Thursday, when the paper went to print, many of the excursionists were still stuck on the other side of the washout. This meant that horse-drawn conveyances had suddenly become valuable again.

Since the flood Golden has assumed the appearance of pioneer days, when the streets were crowded with stage coaches and freighting wagons . All supplies and passengers for the cities and towns of Clear Creek and Gilpin counties have to be transferred overland from Golden . All sorts of vehicles have been transformed into passenger conveyances, and seats have been at a premium. Even the heavy ore wagons have been pressed into service, many of the stranded pleasure seekers being willing to undergo the discomforts of the long journey in springless wagons for the sake of getting back to Denver.

Clear Creek Carriage and their team of Clydesdales pulling a wagon through downtown Golden — *The rubber tires, springs, and brakes would have made this a highly desirable ride! Courtesy of Clear Creek Carriages – photo by Chris Davell – enlarge*

Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!

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