Georgetown Loop Project

Georgetown Loop Project. . , Restoration of the historic railway was done as a construction training exercise by military engineering units of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army. Work was accomplished under the vision and direction of Captain Robert L. Ferriter, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, Navy resources were provided by Reserve Naval Construction Battalions 25 and 25 of the 2nd Naval Construction Regiment, based at Great Lakes, Illinois. Army resources were drawn from Army Engineer Battalion 4, based at Ft. Carson, Colorado., Work was underway in 1972, with major construction being done during summer construction seasons, and continued, as weather and training schedule permitted, through 1974. , The High Bridge was completed by contract in 1984, with the first train traversing the completed grade on 1 August 1984. While many construction materials were obtained through donations to the Colorado Historical Society, construction, except for the Devil's Gate Bridge, was accomplished by the Naval Reserve force and active Army forces., Captain Ferriter, who had started the project as a Lieutenant Commander, provided (with the assistance of fellow Colorado School of Mines alumnus David Ropchan and Lindsay Ashby vision, direction, and leadership throughout the project duration. , It was truly a "win-win project" for all of the military troops and the State Historical Society. ,