The Great Train Robbery

"The Great Train Robbery" (1903) is often erroneously considered to be the first narrative film. It is not even the first narrative film from its director and writer, Edwin S. Porter. It is better described as the first blockbuster of the pre-nickelodeon era and possibly the first movie to parodied.

The movie is based on a real-life train robbery by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and "A Daring Daylight Burglary", a British movie from earlier that year that was extensively pirated within the US. It was also influenced by Porter's earlier film, "Life of an American Fireman". Many of the innovative techniques that many people think were first used in "The Great Train Robbery", such as cross-cutting, were actually used in earlier films. Perhaps "The Great Train Robbery" was the first film were they actually worked.

Edwin S. Porter  explored the dramatic potential of trains not just through there movement, but by contrasting movement with the unmoving train interior through matte layering. And it is still a decent story with more exciting action than some recent movies. Here it is on youtube if you have not already seen it:

Amtrak is leaving Denver's Union Station

On February 1, Amtrak will be leaving Denver's Union Station for a temporary station located at the intersection of 21st and Wewatta (1800 21st Street).

A couple of Colorail members have a bet going about this. One says that Amtrak will never get back into Union Station. Another members says that Amtrak will be able to move back because of the efforts of people like the members of Colorail.

We need to make sure that Amtrak gets back into Denver's historic train station. (Step One: Go to the meeting on Wednesday.)

Last Chance to Tell RTD What They Should Do with Union Station

RTD is having one last meeting to get public input on how they are going to use Union Station once they get it back from the developers.

If you are unable to attend the meeting tonight, you can send your comments to Mike Turner at mike.turner@rtd-fastracks.com. The presentation will be available on the FasTracks website.

Right now there are no plans to make the station easier to use for passengers who take the trains. Hopefully, some people who take the trains can come and tell RTD what would make the station comfortable for them to use.

Final Denver Union Station Historic Building Reuse Public Meeting
(Yes, that is the official title.)
Wednesday, January 26
RTD Administrative Offices
1600 Blake Street, Rooms T & D
Denver, CO 80202

The offices are right under Market Street Station. The main door are on the northwest end of the block. Multiple buses serve this location, including the 0, 1, 6, 9, 15L, 20, 28, 32, 44, 120X, AF, BF, BV, BX, L,LH, LX, S. The free Mall Shuttle runs by also. Make sure you check the bus schedule to see when the last one runs to make sure you know if you have to leave the meeting. Several routes stop running at shortly after 7:00.

Boulder County is developing a transportation plan

Boulder County is holding public meetings to help the Transporation Department develop a transportation master plan, partly to help the county interact effectively with other transportation agencies, with other counties, and with local cities. Boulder County only pays for some of its residents transportation needs, so this is important.

There are going to be three meetings, each in different parts of the county. Each starts at 5:00 with a presentation at 5:30 followed by public comments which are scheduled to end at 7pm. Here are the locations with local transit information:

City of Boulder
Thursday, January 13
Boulder County Transportation Department
2525 13th Street, Second Floor, Large Conference Room
This meeting will focus on transportation in western Boulder County.
The Boulder County Government building is in north Boulder near the Community Plaza Shopping Center. The nearest bus stop is at Broadway and North Street, although Alpine is the street listed on the schedule. The SKIP runs at least every fifteen minutes throughout the meeting time. The  last two 208's going east are at 6:56 and 7:26. The last 208 headed to the Boulder bus station comes by at 7:10.

City of Lafayette
Wednesday, January 19
Centaurus High School
10300 South Boulder Road
Centaurus High School is served by the DASH which runs every fifteen minutes for people arriving to the meeting, and every half an hour for people leaving. Buses for Louisville and Boulder leave at 6:53, 7:23, and 7:53. Buses to the Lafayette ParknRide leave at 6:49, 7:15 and 7:45.

City of Longmont
Thursday, January 20
Longmont Public Library, Meeting Rooms A & B
409 4th Avenue (4th and Emery)
Longmont has lost a lot of bus service in the last two years, so getting here is easy, but not getting home. The 323 passes 4th and Collyer going both directions close to 5:00, but it stops running before the end of the meeting. If you are headed out to the Skyline High School area, you need to catch the bus at 6:30. If you are going near Twin Peaks Mall, you should take the BOLT. The BOLT stops at Main and 3rd where buses arrive at 4:40 and 5:10 going both directions. After the meeting, buses head to the north end of Main Street at 6:50, 7:15 and 7:45. Buses head south to Niwot and Boulder at 6:48, 7:13 and 8:13. The BOLT is a regional bus, so fares may be more expensive than for the local buses. Other regional buses that stop at Main and 3rd are the J (to east Boulder) and the L (to Lafayette and Denver). The 324 stops here also, although it stops running before the meeting ends. You can also take the bus Berthoud, Loveland, and Fort Collins. The FREX arrives at 8th and Coffman at 4:55 and 5:22. Unfortunately, the last bus back north leaves at 6:40.

All bus times are approximate.

I hope that lots of people can come to one of these meetings. If you are not able to come to a meeting, the current plan can be downloaded from a link at http://www.bouldercounty.org/sustain/trans/pages/transportationmasterplan.aspx .
you can send comments to Julie McKay at jmckay@bouldercounty.org.