About Us
The Denver Society of Model Railroaders is an organization dedicated to the accurate construction and realistic operation of model trains in 1:48 scale. Our members own and operate the Colorado Midland Railway, a true 1:48 scale standard gauge and narrow gauge model railroad. The CMR design found its origins in the prototype Colorado Midland Railway that traversed Colorado from Colorado Springs to Grand Junction and interchanged with the legendary Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Today’s Colorado Midland Railway is a dynamic model railroad experience that is focused on America’s western railroads. Model trains and operations reflect the railroads of Colorado’s past, present, and future.
Denver Society of Model Railroaders
1701 Wynkoop Street, Suite 10
Denver, CO 80202
Tel: 303-572-1015
All images and materials are (c)2013 Denver Society of Model Railroaders
The Denver Society of Model Railroaders is not associated with the Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad Club. please see thier website for information.
The 2012-2013 Directors and Officers
Club Membership President: Hugh Blaney
Vice President: Ken Schei
Treasurer: Chip Rovetta
Secretary: Dawn Lindgren
Operations Director: Erik Lindgren
Narrow Gauge Operations Director: Eric Bacchi
Bob Cornell
Roger Clark
© Denver Society of Model Railroaders 2013
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Our Layout
Our Layout
DSMR Track Plan
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Our History
The basement of Denver’s Union Terminal (Union Station) houses one of Denver’s most exciting, historical attractions – the oldest and one of the largest O Scale (1/4 inch = 1 foot)model railroad layouts in the country. The “Colorado Midland Railway” layout encompasses 6500 square feet, spans over 70 years, and, continues to be maintained and expanded by club members of the Denver Society of Model Railroaders. The “original” Colorado Midland Railway was abandoned in the early 1920’s so the club has taken a few liberties with the rolling stock, including diesels and mid-20th century railroad cars, which are lettered, for this now defunct railroad. The model railroad reflects the landscape of Colorado spanning our members’ interests from the transition period of the 1950’s to the present era of hi-tech diesel locomotives. Club members privately own most of the equipment; however the equipment owned by The Club is lettered for the Colorado Midland Railway.
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The layout is comprised of two separate mainlines; narrow gauge (3 feet between the rails) and, standard gauge (4 feet 8 and one-half inches between the rails). The trains travel over 4000 linear feet of track, some pre-fabricated; some painstakingly hand-laid. It takes almost 30 minutes to traverse the standard gauge mainline (approximately 1600 linear feet of track) and 25 minutes to traverse the narrow gauge mainline (500 linear feet of track).. Both operations represent Colorado mountain railroading at the turn-of-the century and beyond Due to its size and age, the layout employs building practices and materials dating from WWII through today’s most up-to-date materials and techniques. Model trains depict railroad commerce, including passenger trains, priority freight trains and local traffic. Multiple trains run so the observer may see both vintage and modern equipment moving along the tracks. The Club showcases its equipment through “theme nights”, which are advertised in local newspapers and railroad publications as well as on our web site, if you are interested in seeing one of your favorites. The terrain is made up of plaster over wire mesh with small stones from Colorado quarries, gravel, ballast, and dirt scraped from local rail yards. The club’s goal is not to recreate specific Colorado scenes but to make a composite of the state’s geographic makeup. You can see the plains areas, the Rocky Mountains, the ongoing construction of the mesas so prominent west of Grand Junction and, the narrow gauge extensions such as “Sargent” that climb up Marshall Pass and encircle the standard gauge. For more information, contact us via our web site at denveroscaleclub.org or call 303-572-1015.
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