Cotopaxi
T
he first town west of the Royal Gorge along U.S. 50 is Cotopaxi. Established in 1882, it was settled largely by Jewish-Russian immigrants whom were planning to start a farming colony. Realizing the Colorado climate at 6,362 feet wasn’t ideal for farming, they largely went to work for the Rio Grande, working on the line over Marshall Pass. The town’s name comes from the largest volcano (of the same name) in Ecuador.
The tracks are located across the Arkansas River where most of the houses for the towns residents can be found. The overgrowth on the tracks at Cotopaxi is even worse than at Texas Creek. After seeing a switch stand near the grade crossing, it took me a moment to find the switch point that the stand belonged to! It was for the house track, located just east of the grade crossing on the siding.
Today, Cotopaxi has a population of 47 (as of the 2010 census) and the town sports a gas station and convenience store.
Opposite Top The lower signal head is missing from the westbound signal at the east end of Texas Creek.
Opposite Bottom The remains of the dwarf signal at the east end of Texas Creek siding are nearly obscured by the surrounding plants. Right Even though plants have grown in excess of six feet in the right of way no train has come through in over a decade, buses in Cotopaxi must still stop at the grade crossing. ColoradoRailfan — 2015 Tennessee Pass Special
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