The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-15
IN RAILWAY CIRCLES.
COVER THE LOOP
A Trip That VIII Be Remembered
as Long as Life Shall Last.

as Long as Life Shall Last.
"Over the Loop"
Only three words and neither of
them remarkable in any way; yet do
they express much to the initiated.
was lucky enough to be one of the
party-Salt Lakers and Denverites-
that made the trip from Denver to
Silver Plume and return. 1t consumed
nearly the entire day, but it was worth
it, and then we have the satisfaction of
knowing that we were the only Salt
Lakers who were wise enough to take
in that wonderful panorama of nature
Clear Creek canyon, and the massive
and picturesque cliffs that stand SEN
tinel-like over the noisy stream, slow
~ but steadily eating away their very
foundations.
From Denver to Golden the ride is
of the ordinary-to the left some ferns
of Utah scenes. Golden, clean,
bright-looking village-more like q
Utah settlement than Colorado town
stands as gate-keeper and warder TO
the entrance of the canyon.
A moment later, and the train is
fairly within the canyon-and canyon
it is-none of your hills and hollows,
ravines and rivulets, but mountains
such as are rarely seen at so close a
range. Even at the best, mountains
and other scenery, as a rule, become
monotonous; not so, however, in Clear
Creek canyon, where every foot COW
cred gives forth new, strange and be-
Wildering views; where cOlors come
and go as if under the control of the
wand Of the Magician of the Universe.
Past that freak in nature known as
Mother Grundy, the train writhes and
twists, scarcely ever during the entire
run of fifty-four miles from Denver 10
Silver Plume does it describe a straight
line.
inspiration Point" is we'll named,
and soon the "Old Roadmaster'' is seen
perched high upon the jagged cliffs,
keeping watch and ward over smaller
peaks, and the river, which from that
height must appear as a mere thread,
now glistening for a moment in the
sunlight, then disappearing in the
shadows Of the rocks.
Around Rocky Point" the train
bends until it describes an almost per-
feet letter S, and while the stony
seem to stand as sentinels
any closer approach, the
saucy Shrek of the engine is heard,
and on goes the train, a swinging,
easy motion giving to the passengers
on what might easily be a perilous trip,
the feeling of safety and security COM
ing from the knowledge that the road
bed is perfect.
Idaho Springs, a characteristic Colo
RADIO mining town, is the home of the
Mining company, which is to
the camp what the Ontario is to Park
City.
Georgetown reached, a pushing, clean
~ Il III l.
our first view of High Bridge is had.
A moment later we pass under it,
ninety feet below the ties and rails:
almost before one knows it, We are
quickly over it, and the thrill
ing and enjoyable, even though some
might consider it dangerous, ride has
fairly begun.
Around and around, over trestle-
work and bridges, through cuts and
over fills, goes the train-a glance
backward shows pretty little George
ness houses look like toy buildings,
and the men and women on the streets
like Liliputians.
Amid shrieks and puffs that show
how well-taXed is the motive power,
we go slowly on, and soon are landed
at neat and clean Silver Plume, min
ing camp famous in Colorado twenty
years or more ago.
Two hours rest and the descent is
begun. 1t is even more thrilling than
the ascent, and some of the more tim
id were seen to shudder perceptibly
when a looking portion of
the road was reached and they were
told by the chaperon that here is the
spot where the train blew over one day
and bruised up a lot Of Johnny Bulls
who had come to look at the mines"
Minus the smoke and the cinders of
the morning, the ride back to Golden
was really more enjoyable than the UP
trip. The canyon had taken on new
features. The sun, now sinking in the
west, no longer threw his arrows
across the road-bed, barely tinging the
tops of the highest peaks with his
golden rays. AS a result, the rocky
sides Of the canyon and the forests of
pine, reaching almost to the very top,
had assumed a softness, a richness,
that was in marked contrast to the
scene of a few hours previous. when
old SoPs piercing lances had ferreted
out almost every nook, his light only
serving to accentuate the wild, the
the grand.
Even the streams music seemed
hushed by comparison with the morn
ing.
Over and above all was that strange
ly beautiful atmospheric effect so Of
ten met with in the canyons Of Utah
and Colorado, and which, while it does
not hide any of the beauties of the
scenery tones down many of the harsh
er features and makes the view rest
full and pleasing to the eye.
1t was as though we had never be-
fore passed along Clear Creek, and
gazed at the peaks that were kissed by
the clouds.
1t was as though we were returning
by a different route than that whence
we came, and it is an open question
with the members of our party yet as
to whether the morning or the after
noon ride was the most enjoyable, al
though the vote was unanimous in ia
vor of both" and there was a resolu-
ton adopted that "the Loop would
be visited again at the very earliest
opportunity.
There is no more inspiring trip; none
with more beauties; none more exhil-
arating; none wherein man can get
closer to natures god than the ona 10
which 1 have paid a weak tribute in a
few words-"The Loop"
DR.. FELL.
Railroad Notes.
w. H. Baldwin, who has been selected