Hist In-Person: Colorado Railroad History

Colorado Railroad Museum and Locomotive Walking Tour

One In-Person Session
Sat., Oct. 5, 2024, 1-2:30 pm MT

The history books are clear: Locomotives had a massive impact on Colorado’s birth and growth. Fortunately, much of that rich railroad heritage has been captured by the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. It’s “All aboard” with the museum staff for an illuminating tour! Start with a short history of the museum and its co-founders Robert Richardson and Cornelius Hauck along with a few humorous tales about how they built the museum. Next, examine the rails between the depot and library to be transported to the past as you learn the role locomotives played in Colorado’s earliest days. Then explore locomotives, some of which go as far back as 1880, and the stories that follow them. The museum staff boasts that the institution is more than just rolling stock in a rail yard museum; it’s a vault holding memories, technology and experiences. Finally, at the roundhouse, discover the museum’s three most famous locomotives: D&RGW No. 491, D&RGW No. 346 and D&RGS No. 20. If weather permits, take a turn pushing the Armstrong turntable built in 1900. Following the tour, take a ride on one of the trains, which is included with your tour. Get on track for some fun!

The Colorado Railroad Museum’s mission is to preserve a tangible record of Colorado’s dynamic railroad era and its pioneering, narrow gauge mountain railroads. The museum’s docents, who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and time with the community, are well versed in the human stories that help the museum connect to these great iron horses of the past.