In planning the restoration of Denver’s Union Station, both bidders for the project assured two longtime occupants that their model railroad layouts would be able to stay in the station.

Both model railroad organizations had well-established layouts in Union Station’s basement: the Denver Society of Model Railroaders’ O-scale Colorado Midland Railway layout was a 75-year-old work in progress occupying 6,500 square feet, while the Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad Club's 2,000-foot-square HO-scale layout had occupied what used to be the station’s jail since 1983.

However, when Union Station Alliance was awarded the project two years ago, both clubs were given notice that, due to hazardous materials and environmental abatement measures, the renovation would make it impossible for them to stay. The PV&W was given a month to vacate; DSMR had hoped to remain but eventually got its walking papers, too.