Castle Rock's Skyward Train

A short posting about one of the eye-catching public art structures in the nearby town of Castle Rock.

From the town's newspaper article about this art: LINK to full article.

“Local backbone” is the title of artist Rafe Ropek’s elevated sculpture: a 20-foot-tall, school-bus yellow train aiming skyward. At night, the train’s headlamp beams toward the top of the town’s signature rock formation.


Ropek envisioned the train invoking an appreciation of the community’s mining heritage, of which the railroad was a “backbone.” The train’s strength and flexibility, meanwhile, are a reflection of the town’s bright future, he said.


“Having the train aim skyward demonstrates optimism. It is as if the train is rising out of the ground as it leaps to new adventures beyond the everyday,” said Ropek, a Berthoud, Colo., artist.

So, this posting is for you Jack!