Denver Union Depot 2015 in Tales of the Jointed Track

We walked down from our hotel, to the Denver Union Depot. This is not the DUT I knew in my early days of railroading. RTD ( Regional Transportation District ) bought the Depot, along with the City and County of Denver.

The depot has changed, since my railroad days. We at one time went through the depot out of 31st yard. The Rio Grande went through there as well from North yard, Prospect Jct and rejoined their track at Burnham. Then the Joint Line at South Denver.

The front of the remodeled Denver Union Depot

The inside of the Depot. Shops, a bar, and the Crawford Hotel, now inhabit the depot. Amtrak is minimal, with the ticket counter joined with RTD, in a small office down the hall. The “old school” shuffle board tables are seen. You pay for and get the pucks at the Terminal bar.

The Terminal Bar, is housed where the old ticket counters were for the railroads it served. You can see the numbered ticket windows. Also notice a drop window for night letters, for the Railway Post Office. Remember the Post mark with RPO and the date it was cancelled?

The tracks are stubbed now on the west end of the Depot proper. There are tracks one and two, which will be used for the RTD train to and from the airport.

Looking due west, Tracks one and two. The circular red colored building in the foreground is the Pepsi Center arena for the Avalanche, Nuggets and various musical venues and concerts.

Tracks one and two looking due east.

This is the underground to track 4. You can see the stairway up to the platform. There are also elevators as well.

This is the “line up schedule” for departing RTD buses.

The drive way for the city buses underground. There is one on each side. The busses arrive from the north and depart to the south, then join up with their routes via 14th and 17th Streets

This is track four. Again it is stubbed off. Looking due west. This is the arrival and departure for Amtrak 5 and 6 the old California Zephyr.

Looking due east. Track four and a stubbed off track five. This track is to set out bad order cars and/or hold for adding on or reducing the passenger train consists or locomotives.

This vacant area is where tracks six, seven and eight were located. The old DUT Operator/Dispatchers tower was located as well. The governed the operation of trains into and out of the Depot proper. The also lined up the CTC switches and associated signals.

This is a mural of the old California Zephyr rear observation car Silver Sky. This is the entry to the underground passageway, back to the depot. The backward lettering says Wewatta Pavilion. A block due north of this entrance is where you can get the “C”-Line lite rail to Littleton, 12.5 miles due south.

The back or trackside view of the Depot. The signs still light up at night.

*Two views showing the old platforms where railroad cars were spotted for unloading. The platform height is smaller now due to side walks being poured. These buildings are bars and restaurants now. There are also lofts and offices on the upper floors. Some are converted into living condos and townhomes.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year.

Last updated January 03, 2015