Rails of History: Colorado's Train Museums

Published: February 28, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Colorado, with its rich railway heritage, offers a fascinating glimpse into the past through its numerous railroad museums. These museums not only preserve the legacy of the railroads but also provide an engaging way to learn about the state's history and how rail transportation shaped its development. Here's a guide to some of the most notable railroad museums in Colorado that are worth a visit.

Rio Grande 2-8-0 #346 leads a short excursion at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden during the summer of 1965. The consolidation was built by Baldwin in 1881 and remains preserved at the museum today. American-Rails.com collection.

Visiting Colorado's railroad museums is not just about seeing historic trains; it's about stepping back into the significant era of railroading that helped shape the American West. Whether you're a train enthusiast or a history buff, these museums offer something for everyone.

Tips for Visiting

- Check Operational Hours: Most museums have seasonal hours or special event days, so it's best to confirm schedules in advance.

- Special Events: Many museums host events like train shows, night trains, and seasonal rides (such as holiday-themed trains), which can greatly enhance your visit.

- Tour Guides: Opt for guided tours if available; the knowledgeable guides often share intriguing stories and insights that enhance the experience.

- Interactive Exhibits: Look out for interactive displays or simulators, which offer a fun way to engage with the history hands-on.

Museum Guide

Boardwalk Park Museum

This museum is part of Windsor's historical exhibits related to the area's history.  

Part of their collection includes a preserved/restored Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific Railway (Organized on January 17, 1881, the GSL&P was financed by the original Union Pacific Railroad.  Following its bankruptcy, it became a part of the Colorado & Southern in 1898, which itself was acquired by the growing Chicago, Burlington & Quincy on December 19, 1908.) wooden depot built in 1882, a caboose, and other railroad displays.

Additional exhibits to peruse within the greater Boardwalk Park include the Eaton House, a schoolhouse, a German-Russian farmhouse, a beet-shanty, and a prayer-meeting house. 

The museum is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day each season from Thursday through Sunday (please visit the town's website to find out exact hours of operation).  Admission is free although donations are welcome.

Castle Rock Museum

The Castle Rock Museum is operated by the Castle Rock Historical Society, housed within the town's preserved and restored Denver & Rio Grande stone (rhyolite) depot completed in 1875. 

The building does not sit at its original location, however, and was moved from its trackside perch in 1970.  In 1974 it was placed on the National Register Of Historic Places and Castle Rock's Register Of Local Landmarks in 1994. 

According to the historical society, formed in 1991 to preserve the structure, it still carries its original interior, ticket window, baggage area, and more than a century of "graffiti on its walls." 

There are various exhibits on display and admission is free of charge.  The museum is open year-round although only on select days of the week. 

Colorado Railroad Museum

One of the most enjoyable of scenic train rides can be found at his museum in Golden; the state's largest such facility which aims to keep alive its fascinating history with the iron horse.

The organization was formed in 1959 and has grown considerably over that time.  They currently feature two replica depots and preserve thirteen steam locomotives of either standard or narrow-gauge. 

A few are operational to host train rides around the grounds (along with other special events during the year).  These include:

• American Oil 0-4-0T #1
• Manitou & Pike's Peak Railway 0-4-2 #1 (cog)
• Union Pacific 0-6-0 #4455
• Colorado & North Western 2-8-0 #30 (36-inch)
• Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 #318 (36-inch)
• Denver, South Park & Pacific 2-8-0 #191 (36-inch)
• Denver & Rio Grande 2-8-0 #683,
• Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 #346 (36-inch, operational)
• Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-2 #491 (36-inch, operational)
• Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 4-8-4 #5629
• West Side Lumber 3-truck Shay #14
• West Side Lumber 3-truck Shay #12 (operational)

Other equipment include diesel locomotives, rare "Galloping Geese" rail cars originally operated on the Rio Grande Southern, and several passenger cars.

Forney Museum Of Transportation

This organization, established in 1961, is located along Brighton Boulevard in Denver with more than 600 transportation-related artifacts. 

Their slogan "Anything on Wheels" rings quite true as you can see everything from locomotives and automobiles to airplanes and bicycles. 

The museum's locomotives include:

• 0-4-0 #7 (built by Henschel & Sohn of Germany in 1930)
• Cora-Texas Plantation 0-4-4T #108 (a 36-inch tank engine built by H.K. Porter in 1897)
• Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 #444 (built by American Locomotive in 1906 as a Class R-1 "Ten-Wheeler")
• Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" #4005 (manufactured by Alco in October, 1941)

The latter is the group's prized piece and one of the largest steamers ever built.  Their were 25 of these giants constructed in the early 1940's to tackle the stiff grades over the Wasatch Mountains and Wyoming's Sherman Hill. 

Today, eight are preserved with one, #4014, owned by Union Pacific. Except major holidays the Forney Museum is open throughout most of the year.

Hugo Roundhouse Preservation, Inc.

This group's goal is to preserve and restore the Union Pacific's former roundhouse in Hugo, Colorado. They eventually plan to open a museum on the grounds.  To learn more about their efforts please visit their website. 

Limon Heritage Museum & Railroad Park

Located in the town of Limon this museum is housed within the preserved Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and Union Pacific union depot built in 1910. 

Originally constructed from wood it was later modernized in 1936 and is currently listed on the National Register Of Historic Places. 

While the latter railroad served much of eastern Colorado and directly reached Denver, the former was somewhat of an outlier. 

It also enjoyed service to Denver and Colorado Springs (its main line split at Limon) but only via a single route running west across Kansas. 

According to the museum they currently feature several displays along with a Union Pacific caboose and boxcar dating from the 1890's. 

While you are there also be sure to see other exhibits on display such as lunch counter-diner, sheep wagons, a Cheyenne tipi, working chuck wagon, and a one-room schoolhouse.  Their open season runs from Memorial through Labor Day.

Moffat Road Railroad Museum

The Moffat Road Railroad Museum, located in Granby, is a relatively new organization located adjacent to the former Rio Grande main line (now operated by Union Pacific).

Their growing collection includes a few pieces of rolling stock, a 1913 steam derrick (maintenance), 1,100-square foot O scale model railroad layout.

Their featured display is West Side Lumber 3-truck Shay #8 that will be showcased at the museum.

Museum of Northwest Colorado

This museum is located in Craig and, as its name suggests, focuses on the history of northwest Colorado.  Most of their collection focuses on subjects not related to the railroad. 

However, some noteworthy displays include a small model layout based on David Moffat's Denver & Salt Lake Railway as well as his private business car, named for daughter, Marcia.

It has been beautifully restored and is available for tours.  Moffat's D&SL began in 1902 to build a secondary route from Denver to Salt Lake City.  However, he ran out of money in 1913 having only reached Craig, Colorado. 

According to Mike Schafer's took, "Classic American Railroads," part of the D&SL crossed 11,680-foot Rollins Pass. 

It was situated somewhat northwest of Denver and was only surmounted via a series of tortuous switchbacks, carrying grades as high as 4%.  So difficult was this stretch that 23 miles of railroad were required to connect two points just 8 miles apart.   

To improve operations the city agreed in 1922 to help fund a new tunnel under James Peak.  Following six years of work the $18 million project was completed in 1928 and named for D&SL's founder.  Moffat Tunnel was 6.1 miles in length and reduced the trip from hours to a mere 15 minutes. 

Pueblo Railway Museum

The Pueblo Railway Museum is based in Pueblo, Colorado and one of the state's growing such facilities.

Its home is next to the beautifully restored Pueblo Union Depot, a large three-story stone building that opened in 1890 and originally used by the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Missouri Pacific, Colorado & Southern, and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. 

The museum's featured displays are located outdoors on its storage tracks.  It houses one notable steam locomotive, Santa Fe 4-8-4 #2912, a late-era design manufactured by Baldwin in 1944. 

In addition, there are several diesels on the property including:

• Colorado Fuel & Iron 25-tonner #11 (General Electric)
• Fibreboard Products 44-tonner #1 (General Electric)
• Department of Transportation U30C #001
• Three Chicago & North Western GP7's (#102-104, built in 1951, all are fully operational)
  

In addition to these locomotives the group maintains a fleet of preserved freight and passenger cars.  Admission is free.

Ridgway Railroad Museum

The Ridgway Railroad Museum, based in Ridgway states its primary mission as preserving the railroad heritage of Ouray County.

Along with its collection of mostly narrow-gauge equipment the museum also offers train rides. 

The group does not have a steam or diesel locomotive preserved within its collection but does house one of the rare "Galloping Geese" operated by the Rio Grande Southern (RGS). 

This railroad was one of Colorado's largest and most interesting narrow-gauges.  It was the last endeavor built to serve the mining boom within the San Juan Mountains, running from a connection with the Rio Grande at Ridgway to a Durango, utilizing a network that formed a rough "C." 

By the late 19th century the D&RG had acquired full control of the system.  Much of it was abandoned and dismantled between August and September of 1952.

While there is no restored depot on the grounds they do feature an RGS outhouse/coal storage building (the Denver & Rio Grande's depot in Ridgway is preserved albeit is currently a private residence).

The museum is open only during the summer months from June 1st through September 30th.