by Judith Reese, Photos by Mike Rosso “Fabulous! Colorado’s Best Secret Attraction,” declares an entry in the Buena Vista Model Railroad guestbook. It’s in the hand of well-known history professor Tom Noel, and now the secret is out. The delightful diorama, housed on the top floor of the BV Heritage Museum, depicts in miniature the history, topography and layout of the Upper Arkansas River Valley, capturing the roughly 140 miles from Tennessee Pass to the Royal Gorge. Along the way, model “iron horses” wind their way through replicas of area towns and industry as they appeared during the heyday of ...
