Durango was founded in 1879 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway Company. The railroad arrived two years later and by 1882 construction of the branch line to Silverton had been completed. Over the next 100 years an estimated $300+ million of gold and silver ore (and other precious metals) was hauled over this branch line.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum
479 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81302; (970) 247-2733;
The Silverton (May-Oct) - Fare: Adult $53 / Child (5-11) $27;
Winter Cascade Canyon (Nov-Apr) - Fare: Adult $45 / Child (5-11) $22.50;
Both trains offer a Parlor Car upgrade - or over

Coal-fired steam locomotives pull vintage railcars on a narrow gauge track through the rugged scenic beauty of the San Juan National Forest. The route follows the Animas River to Silverton and has been in continuous use since 1882 and makes a 9-hour round trip. The coaches are heated in winter and have restroom facilities. Open-air gondola cars provide great panoramic views. Concessions are available onboard.

Winter Cascade Canyon Train - runs daily at 10AM / 7:30PM (Nov-Apr) to Cascade Canyon and Purgatory Ski Resort.

Also adjacent (in Durango) is a railroad museum inside the Durango Roundhouse Museum. Included in the display are two full-size locomotives, business class cars, 1880's photographs, maps and railroad art.

Silverton Freight Yard Museum has more exhibits and artifacts from the grand steam rail era.

Royal Gorge Route
401 Water St, Canon City, CO 81212; (888) 724-5748;
Fare: Adult $24.50 / Child (3-12) $16.50;
Departure: 9AM, Noon, & 3PM (May-Oct) / Weekends only for rest of year;

24-mile rail excursion follows the scenic Arkansas River between Canon City and Parkdale. Includes dramatic views of the Royal Gorge Bridge from vintage rail cars. The train also crosses a rare hanging bridge where the gorge narros to just 30 feet wide.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
PO Box 668, Antonito, CO 81120; (719) 376-5483 (CO) / (505) 756-2151 (NM);
Fare: Osier Round Trip Adult $34 / Child (1-11) $17;
Fare: Round Trip Antonito-Chama Adult $54 / Child (1-11) $27;
Departs: Antonito 10AM / Chama 10:30AM Memorial Day to Mid-Oct;

The Colorado Limited runs from Antonito to Osier where it connects to the New Mexico Express which continues onto Chama, N.M. This line was originally built in the 1880's to service area mining camps in the Rocky Mountain region. Coal-fired vintage steam locomotive trains offer scenic views of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges.

The town of Osier, which is inaccessible by car, serves as the transfer point between the two trains. Food is available.

Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad A Fabulous Journey into Yesteryear!
520 E. Carr St, Cripple Creek, CO 80813; (719) 689-2640;
Daily 10AM-5:30 Late-May to Early-Oct;
4-mile 45-minute guided tour train pulled by a coal-burning steam locomotive. A 15-ton iron horse (classic 0-4-0 configuration) pulls you past many historic gold mines and over a reconstructed trestle and terminates at the abandoned Anaconda mining camp. Boarding at the Midland Depot in Cripple Creek.

Cripple Creek District Museum
Located inside the original railroad depot. Museum includes Assay Office and Heritage Gallery.

Georgetown Loop Railroad
1106 Rose St, Georgetown, CO 80444; (800) 691-4386;

1920's vintage steam locomotive pulls regular excursion through early Colorado Silver Mining Territory. Trains depart either from Georgetown depot or Silver Plume depot. Deluxe package includes guided tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine. Operates daily only from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekend from Labor Day to Mid-October.

Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad
PO Box 916, Leadville, CO 80461; (719) 486-3936;
Fare: Adult $22.50 / Child (4-12) $12.50;

2.5 hour scenic na rail tour of Colorado mining country. Route goes from Leadville to Climax. Daily tours Memorial Day to Sept 30.

Colorado Railroad Museum
17155 W. 44th Ave, Golden, CO 80402; (800) 365-6263; Email:corrmus@aol.com;
Open: Daily 9AM-5PM; Admission: Adult $6 / Child (2-16) $3 / Family $14.50;

Museum houses many records and artifacts pertaining to early state railroad operations. Many steam locomotives and railcars in a 12-acre park like setting. Includes DR&G engine #346 - the oldest operating steam engine in Colorado. Located in Golden, CO. Major model railroad exhibit also on display.

Forney Transportation Museum
4303 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO; (303) 297-1113;
Open: Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM; Call for admission price info;

In 1999 this museum relocated to its new location near Denver Coliseum. A wide variety of vehicles on display including many unique items:

• World's largest steam locomotive
• Prince Aly Khan's Rolls Royce Phantom
• Original McCormick reaper

Limon Heritage Museum
Limon depot, Limon, CO, 80828; (719) 775-2373;

Museum housed in the restored Union Pacific and Rock Island depot. Historical artifacts include antique farm machinery, cowboy saddles, railroad cars, pioneer schoolhouse, sheepherders wagon and indian artifacts. Located next door is a railroad park with children's playground and picnic facilities.

Locomotive 60
Steam locomotive with coal tender and passenger coach (dating back to 1886) of the Colorado and Southern Railroad, sits on an original track section running through the downtown business district of Idaho Springs.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway
515 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829; (719) 685-5401;
3.25 hour round trip to the summit of Pikes Peak. Offers incredible scenic vistas and lots of mountain wildlife. Highest operating elevation for a cog railroad in the world (upto 14,110 feet).

Tiny Town and Railroad
6249 S. Turkey Creek Rd, Morrison, CO; (303) 697-6829;
Admission: $2.50 Adult / $1.50 Child (3-12) / Train Ride $1;
Open: Weekends only May/Sep/Oct and Daily Memorial Day to Labor Day;
10-acre miniature children's village started back in 1915. Over 100 buildings including toy store, saloon, church, ice cream shop, and bank all constructed at 1/6th scale. Authentic miniature open-air steam train rides through town. This place boasts of being the world's oldest miniature town and dates back to the very early 1900's.

Cross Orchards Historic Farm - Grand Junction - includes Uintah Railway exhibit
Telluride Railway Depot - Build 1891 - historical landmark
San Juan County Museum - Silverton - early railroading artifacts
Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour - Ouray - mine train tour of old silver/gold mine
Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour - Silverton - mine train tour of old silver/gold mine
Moffat Railroad Tunnel - Winter Park, CO