Colorado Railroad Museum, Front Range Travel Guide

The Colorado Railroad Museum, established in 1959 by Robert W. Richardson and Cornelius W. Hauck, stands as a testament to Colorado's pioneering railroad era. The museum is dedicated to preserving a tangible record of Colorado's dynamic railroad history, especially its narrow-gauge mountain railroads. Located in Golden, Colorado, the museum spans 15 acres along the former Colorado and Southern Railway line, nestled between the scenic North and South Table Mountains. The site features a replica of an 1880s-style railroad depot, serving as the main museum building. The museum boasts a collection of over 100 narrow and standard gauge locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses, and other rolling stock dating from the 1880s to the 1980s. Highlights include the oldest surviving steam locomotive in Colorado and two of the Rio Grande Southern's Galloping Geese. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring original photographs, paintings, and scale models, including the Denver HO Model Railroad Club's operating HO and HOn3 scale model train layout. The Robert W. Richardson Railroad Library houses over 10,000 historic photographs and reference materials. The museum offers train rides on a 1/3-mile loop, providing a living history experience. Special events include Day Out With Thomas and The Polar Express Train Ride. Recent exhibits, such as "Hidden from History: A Century of Women in Railroading" and "Black Diamonds and Steel Rails," showcase the diverse stories and impact of railroads in Colorado.