Colorado Railroad HERITAGE WEEK
Celebrating Colorado’s Rich Railroad Heritage
Information and Activities:
What is Colorado Rail Heritage Week?
More than any other undertaking, railroads have transformed Colorado from a wild, isolated, sparsely populated and geographically challenging territory into a booming state filled with agriculture, extractive industries, manufacturing and large cities filled with arts and culture. To recognize this fact, the Colorado Railroad Museum is spearheading efforts each year to have Colorado’s Governor declare the last week of June to be Colorado Rail Heritage Week.
Click here to read the full Proclamation!
Why this week? The first train arrived in Denver on June 24, 1870, accompanied by great celebration. Within just a few decades more than 2,000 miles of railroad tracks had been constructed along gorges, across roaring rivers, through tunnels and over high mountain passes until they reached almost every corner of the state. In May 2022, Colorado was recognized by the readers of USA Today for having four of the top 10 most scenic rail roads in the nation (No 1, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; No. 2, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad; No. 7, Georgetown Loop Railroad; and No. 10, Pikes Peak Cog Railroad).
“Few places in the world have as colorful a railroading history as Colorado, and this state has done a tremendous job of preserving that history for the enjoyment of residents and visitors,” said Paul Hammond, executive director of the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. “We hope Rail Heritage Week will be a time for Coloradans to reflect on all that railroads have meant to our state, and make plans to ride an historic train or visit a rail heritage site or museum.”
ABOUT THE COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM:
Consistently ranked by Visit Denver as one of the top 10 attractions in the city, the Colorado Railroad Museum features the most comprehensive collection of railroad history in the state with more than 100 narrow- and standard-gauge steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses and freight cars. Located on a spectacular 15-acre site in Clear Creek Valley in Golden, CO, the museum has a half mile circle of operating track offering weekend train rides, along with a working roundhouse and turntable, railroad library, exhibition galleries, outdoor pavilion, and a huge indoor HO model railroad and outdoor G-scale garden railway. The Colorado Railroad Museum offers interactive family fun mixed with authentic Colorado railroad history.
Offers, Events, Promotions and Exhibits Throughout Colorado:
Ridgway Railroad Museum
FREE RIDES ON:
Gallopin Goose #4
Motor #1
CW Engine with Caboose in Tow!
Every Friday & Saturday morning.
Contact: forrestbault@gmail.com
Address: 200 N Railroad Ave, Ridgway CO, 81432
Colorado Railroad Museum
10% discount on our latest publication, “Tin Feathers, Wooden Trestles & Iron Men” covering the history of the unique Rio Grande Southern “Galloping Goose” Motorcars.
Contact: scott@crrm.org
Address: 17155 W. 44th Avenue, Golden CO 80226
Forney Museum Of Transportation
Special scavenger hunts and crafts! Videos and games all centered around trains!
6/23: Big Boy train open and available for anyone who wants to explore!
(The Moffit modelers will also be open one day during this week)
Anyone who mentions CO Heritage Rail Week, CRR Museum or Moffit will get $2.00 0ff admission the week of June 18-24!
Contact: education@forneymuseum.org
Address: 4303 Brighton Blvd, Denver CO 80216
