Colorado Crossings: Making History Today!

Metro Denver’s Largest Rail Enthusiast Event Returns May 18-19

The Colorado Railroad Museum is bringing back Denver Metro’s largest and most colorful festival of operating trains over the weekend of May 18-19, 2024. Called “Colorado Crossings: Making History Today,” the event will feature two coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotives under steam plus three “Galloping Geese” in operation. A used book sale, locomotive cab tours, a panel discussion featuring Colorado rail heritage leaders, and more will help round out an exciting lineup both days!

The weekend’s activities include:
• Rides on a steam train pulled by one of two vintage, coal-burning steam locomotives! On Saturday, trains will be pulled by Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 491 (Colorado’s largest operating coal-fired steam locomotive), and on Sunday, trains will be pulled by Rio Grande Southern No. 20, which just celebrated its 125th birthday earlier this year.
• A “Parade of Geese and Steam” starting each day at 9:30 a.m. that will include three Rio Grande Southern “Galloping Geese” railcars, Nos. 2, 6, and 7, all built in Colorado in the 1930s (only seven Galloping Geese were ever built), plus 1899-vintage Rio Grande Southern steam locomotive No. 20 and 1928-vintage Denver & Rio Grande Western steam locomotive No. 491. For rail photo buffs, this will be a unique opportunity to capture an impressive parade of vintage railroad equipment in operation.
• Turntable demonstrations will be ongoing each day, allowing visitors the chance to push a full-sized railroad turntable by hand.
• Roundhouse tours will allow visitors to tour the cab of a steam locomotive up-close and under steam, between approximately 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. On Saturday, Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 steam locomotive No. 20 (vintage 1899) will be available for tours, and on Sunday guests will have the opportunity to tour Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 491 (vintage 1928).
• New for 2024, a Panel Discussion featuring heritage railroading professionals from throughout Colorado will kick off in the Pavilion starting at 11 a.m. This panel will examine the heritage railroading and museum movement in Colorado, which originates with the Colorado Railroad Museum in the 1950s and has grown and flourished in the years since. The Panel will also discuss the present and future of heritage railroading in the Centennial State, and some of the opportunities and challenges that may lie ahead.
• A Big Boy of a Used Book Sale, with hundreds of used railroad books available at bargain-basement prices, will be ongoing 10 a.m.-3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
• Late each afternoon, once regular Train Rides conclude, a special photographers’ freight train will operate. A variety of vintage freight cars from the Museum’s collection will be included in the consist, along with the requisite caboose.

Food, beverages and treats will be available for purchase both days. Activities will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (parade of locomotives and Geese kicks off at 9:30 a.m. both days) with photo train operating late each day (approximately 3:30-4:30 p.m.), after regular Train Rides end. This popular event has sold out for the past three years in a row, so advance ticket reservations are strongly suggested!

Advance Tickets Available Online (Click Here)

Museum Admission & Train Rides: $14 adults, $12 seniors, $7 ages 2-17, Museum Members and under age 2 free. Rides depart every 30 minutes 10am-3p.m.The Colorado Railroad Museum features a large, outdoor exhibit space and is effectively an active rail yard. Please wear appropriate clothing for Colorado weather and good footwear – we recommend good walking shoes or hiking boots as well as flexible layers. Please note that this ticket includes a train ride – please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled train ride departure.