Mar 16 2008
The Pikes Peak Railway in Manitou Springs is the world's highest cog railroad. For 115 years it has taken passengers up 14,110 feet to the summit of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the famed song "America the Beautiful" (www.cograilway.com). The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad takes travelers back through the region's mining days on a 3,000 foot climb from Durango to Silverton where during the height of the gold rush, more than $300 million in gold and silver was discovered. This famous railway has been featured in many movies, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Cañon City runs along a valley floor surrounded by the 1,200-foot rock walls of the Royal Gorge. Keep your eyes upward on this ride and you'll see the highest suspension bridge in the world – the Royal Gorge Bridge.
Connecting Colorado and New Mexico, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the highest and longest narrow-gauge railway in the U.S. It travels along a breathtaking 64-mile route on the Colorado/New Mexico border, showcasing a varied and unique landscape.
Enjoy the beauty of Clear Creek Valley along the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Passengers have the option to take in the fresh mountain air as they sit in open-air cars or they can enjoy the scenery through the windows of covered cars. Either way, they'll enjoy the ride over Devil's Gate Bridge, a trestle spanning the deep drop of a river carved canyon. This six-mile ride also includes an optional tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine.
Heading to Winter Park for a great weekend of skiing? Hop on board the Ski Train. Departing from historic Union Station in downtown Denver, the Ski Train takes you through 27 tunnels in 25 miles on the way to Winter Park. Don't let the name fool you, the Ski Train runs during the summer months as well.
The Leadville & Southern Railroad takes passengers over the Continental Divide and around the boomtown of Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the U.S. For two and a half hours, visitors ride the historic route and are given a history lesson of the miners and scenery associated with the area.
For a more modern train experience, Amtrak takes passengers over high mountain passes featuring scenic panoramas. The California Zephyr line travels roughly two-thirds of the way across the country, including through the heart of the Colorado Rockies.
The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad takes you through Colorado's gold country. The 45 minute loop takes riders through a century of history of the once gold-frenzied town of Cripple Creek. Today, visitors can still strike it rich in Cripple Creek at one of the town's casinos.
Hop aboard the newly re-opened Rio Grande Scenic Railway. The passenger route which closed in 1953 re-opened in 2006 and takes passengers on two trains out of the town of Alamosa – The Toltec Limited and the San Luis Express. Visitors break from their ride in the 1870s town of La Veta where they can spend the afternoon shopping and enjoying lunch before returning to Alamosa.
Looking for even more rail history? Visit one of Colorado's train museums, including the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver and the Gunnison Pioneer & Train Museum in Gunnison. While there, let the knowledgeable and friendly staff answer all your locomotive questions.
Article and Information Courtesty: State of Colorado Tourism
