Members and guests ride RTD commuter lines

By Phillip Norisez, Chapter Member

We rendezvoused trackside at Denver Union Station, prepared for a day of train riding.  The architecture almost seemed to be welcoming us with open arms as we approached.

Photo by Bob Brewster

It was certainly going to be a most interesting set of journeys, as members of the Chapter abandoned automobiles for a day, instead “riding the rails” of RTD’s four commuter lines.  Chapter member, and retired RTD General Manager of Capital Projects, Rick Clarke, escorted us, relating a few facts about each line and answering questions.

Centering on Denver’s Union Station, we first rode the B and G lines in the morning. The B line currently terminates at Westminster Station which is located at 69th Avenue and Grove Street.  Plans have it that the B line will eventually go to Longmont.  The G line, also known as the Gold line, currently terminates at the Wheat Ridge Ward Station after passing through 41st-Fox, Pecos Junction, Clear Creek-Federal, 60th & Sheridan-Arvada Gold Strike, Olde Town Arvada, Arvada Ridge, and Wheat Ridge.  Original plans had it serving downtown Golden.

We then broke for a delicious luncheon repast at the Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill at Denver Union Station as pictured below:

Photo by Bob Brewster

After lunch, we resumed riding, starting with the N line north to Eastlake/124th station through Denver, Commerce City, Northglenn, and Thornton.  We posed for a group picture at Eastlake station:

Photo by Bob Brewster

The final line of the day was the A line out to DIA, or, as some call it "the train to the plane," after which some of us retired to the Hyatt House Denver Airport’s overlook lounge for a toast to a successful excursion.

Photo by Rick Clarke To the right of the train there is a plane taking off.

Among the many other things observed from the trains were cars of the Rocky Mountaineer and of the Atlas nuclear waste train.