Gloria in the white jacket and me in the black jacket,
Ross driving the train.

My friend Gloria and I have coffee once a month just to catch up on each other’s lives. Tuesday was our day to meet so Gloria asked if I would like to take a day trip with her and her husband, Art.  A trip to Coal Creek Canyon proved to be a very memorable day. A friend of theirs had built a miniature railroad and had invited his friends to take a ride. I must admit that I did not know what to expect and neither did Art and Gloria. What fun we had as we took turns riding the rail. Their friend Ross is retired and built the whole thing in his spare time. It is really quite a setup as you can see from the pictures.

Ross has five acres in Coal Creek and a deep slope on his land. He built not only the train but all of the tussles and tracks. He has a huge workshop full of engines that he is working on. An actual turntable where he can turn the train around. All of it was unbelievable that one man could do all of this. It is right out behind his house. What a back yard.

What a house! Ross also built his house over 35 years. It is round with an enclosed walking porch all the way around it. It is in the background of the 2nd picture.

The group of friends that were there all graduated together from Arvada High School. How much fun it was listening to their stories, especially since I just missed my High School Reunion while I was on vacation the week before.

I was thinking of my little cousins Jack and Wyatt, and how they would have loved to be with me riding the rails.