Colorado Train Trips

COLORADO LEGENDS

Colorado Train Trips - Historical, Colorful and Fun

By Wendy Pan

Colorful Colorado really comes to life as you travel across the broad plains and climb steep mountain grades on colorful train trips within this beauty packed state. Colorado train trips are historical, colorful, and fun! You can ride the rails of a modern Amtrak train or click-clack over the tracks on restored narrow gauge trains or climb skyward on an historic cog railway line.

For history, start high in the mountains near Pikes Peak, at about 9500' elevation, riding the rails to a ghost town on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. The whistle of this 15 ton "iron horse" steam locomotive carries across the mountain valley of this high gold mining district, as this tourist trip heads for a ghost town on its 45 minute, four mile, round trip. Board at historic Cripple Creek. Open May through October.

Cripple Creek & Victor Railroad, June, 2006, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

While in Cripple Creek, visit the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine. You descend straight down in a cage 1000 feet into this historic and still active gold mine, and near the end of the tour you will experience a ride in an air powered "man trip" train just like the miners do. Open April through October.

Another popular historic train ride carries passenger through a national forest on the colorful Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Originally built to haul gold and silver, this vintage steam train has been operating for over 129 years continuously. The 45 mile trip takes 3 ½ hours each way, with a 2 ¼ hour layover. Open May through early November.

Photo courtesy Durango & Dilverton Narrow Guage Railroad and Museum.

Near Colorado Springs, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad is famous for beauty. You will ride on 24 miles along the Arkansas River through the bottom of the 1,000 foot deep Royal Gorge. View wildlife as you travel along the steep canyon walls. Travel coach or vista dome car, food and special trips available. 2 hour trips, or 3 for dinner train. Open March through October.

Colorado train trips set records! For high adventure and fun, the world famous Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway's Swiss cog train is the highest cog train in the world, climbing to the summit of Pikes Peak, elevation 14,110 feet. Wonderful scenic views, and historical sites, including the spot that was the inspiration for the lyrics to "America the Beautiful" Depart from Manitou Springs depot. Open year round

Photo courtesy Pike's Peak Cog Railway.

Amtrak offers rail tour packages for tours to Glenwood Springs, and Grand Junction. In winter, packages are for popular ski resorts including Copper Mountain, Aspen and Winter Park. Regular Amtrak service crosses the state, offering a pleasant way to reach any destination near or far. For in town rail adventures, try the Denver Light Rail system, a fast and easy way to get around town.

Colorado train trips are especially colorful in the fall high country, when the Aspens turn the mountainsides into a blaze of yellow mixed with green pines. For family fun, adventure, and a real learning experience, ride the rails across colorful Colorado.

Added February, 2009

About the Author:

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

A railroad track in Cathedral Park, Colorado, photo by Detroit Photographic Co, 1901.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

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