![A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Colorado.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Colorado_in_United_States.svg/220px-Colorado_in_United_States.svg.png)
This list of Colorado railroads identifies the variety of active, historic, and defunct railroads in the U.S. State of Colorado.
Common freight carriers
[edit]- BNSF Railway (BNSF)
- Cimarron Valley Railroad (CVR)
- Colorado and Wyoming Railway (CW)
- Colorado Pacific Railroad (COPR)
- Denver Rock Island Railroad (DRIR)
- Great Western Railway of Colorado (GWR)
- Hudson Terminal Railroad (HTR)
- Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (KO)
- Keenesburg Direct Railroad (KDR)
- Kyle Railroad (KYLE)
- Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway (NKCR)
- Rock and Rail LLC (RRRR)
- San Luis Central Railroad (SLC)
- San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad (SLRG)
- Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
- Utah Railway (UTAH)
Historic attraction carriers
[edit]- Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
- Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Fort Collins Municipal Railway
- Georgetown Loop
- Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway
- Platte Valley Trolley (Denver Tramway Heritage Society)
- Rio Grande Scenic Railroad
- Royal Gorge Route Railroad
- Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad (The South Park)
Private freight carriers
[edit]Passenger carriers
[edit]- Amtrak (AMTK)
- RTD Rail
- Colorado San Francisco and Northern LLC.
- Rockies to the Red Rocks (Rocky Mountaineer)
Defunct railroads
[edit]Name | Mark | System[a] | From | To | Successor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentine Central Railway | 1905 | 1912 | Argentine and Gray's Peak Railway | |||
Argentine and Gray's Peak Railway | 1913 | 1918 | N/A | |||
Arkansas Valley Railroad | ATSF | 1900 | 1907 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Aspen Short Line Railway | 1888 | 1893 | Colorado Midland Railroad | |||
Aspen and Western Railway | 1880 | 1892 | Crystal River Railway | |||
Associated Railroads | none | AT&SF, CB&Q (BN), CRI&P, C&S (BN) and D&RGW | 1953 | 1988 | Regional Transportation District | Consortium formed to operate former Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad line to the Denver Federal Center. Service provided alternately by C&S (BN) and D&RGW on behalf of the other owning railroads. |
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad | ATSF | 1873 | 1895 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ATSF | ATSF | 1895 | 1996 | Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway | |
Beaver, Penrose and Northern Railway | 1909 | 1920 | N/A | |||
Book Cliff Railroad | 1899 | 1925 | N/A | |||
Burlington and Colorado Railroad | CB&Q | 1881 | 1908 | Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | ||
Burlington Northern Inc. | BN | 1970 | 1981 | Burlington Northern Railroad | ||
Burlington Northern Railroad | BN | 1981 | 1996 | Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Busk Tunnel Railway | 1890 | 1900 | Colorado Midland Railway | |||
Cadillac and Lake City Railway | CLK | 1981 | 1989 | N/A | ||
Canon de Agua Railroad | CB&Q | 1889 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Canon City and Cripple Creek Railroad | 1897 | 1915 | N/A | |||
Canon City and San Juan Railway | ATSF | 1877 | 1878 | Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad | ||
Canon Coal Railway | DRGW | 1872 | 1878 | Denver and Rio Grande Railway | ||
Central Kansas Railway | CKRY | 1997 | 2001 | Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad | ||
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | CB&Q | CB&Q | 1881 | 1970 | Burlington Northern Inc. | |
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway | CB&Q | 1901 | 1907 | N/A | Leased the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | |
Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway | RI | 1888 | 1891 | Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway | ||
Chicago, Rock Island and Colorado Railway | RI | 1888 | 1888 | Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway | ||
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad | RI, ROCK | RI | 1947 | 1980 | Cadillac and Lake City Railway | |
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway | RI | RI | 1888 | 1948 | Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad | |
Chicosa Canon Railway | CB&Q | 1889 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Clear Creek and Guy Gulch Wagon Road Company | CB&Q | 1871 | 1873 | Colorado Central Railroad | ||
Colorado Railroad | 1938 | 1957 | N/A | |||
Colorado Railroad | CB&Q | 1906 | 1930 | Colorado and Southern Railway | ||
Colorado Railway | DRGW | 1883 | 1888 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Colorado Central Railroad | CB&Q | 1869 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Colorado Central and Pacific Railroad | CB&Q | 1866 | 1869 | Colorado Central Railroad | ||
Colorado and Clear Creek Railroad | CB&Q | 1865 | 1866 | Colorado Central and Pacific Railroad | ||
Colorado Eastern Railroad | 1894 | 1915 | N/A | |||
Colorado Eastern Railway | 1888 | 1894 | Colorado Eastern Railroad | |||
Colorado–Kansas Railway | 1911 | 1932 | Colorado Railroad | |||
Colorado, Kansas and Pacific Railway | CKP | 2000 | 2003 | Towner Railway | ||
Colorado Midland Railroad | CM | 1917 | 1921 | Midland Terminal Railway | ||
Colorado Midland Railroad | 1893 | 1897 | Colorado Midland Railway | |||
Colorado Midland Railway | 1897 | 1917 | Colorado Midland Railroad | |||
Colorado Midland Railway | 1883 | 1893 | Colorado Midland Railroad | |||
Colorado and New Mexico Railroad | ATSF | 1873 | 1875 | Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad | ||
Colorado Northern Railway | CB&Q | 1883 | 1884 | Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad | ||
Colorado and Northwestern Railroad | 1904 | 1909 | Denver, Boulder and Western Railroad | |||
Colorado and Northwestern Railway | 1897 | 1904 | Colorado and Northwestern Railroad | |||
Colorado and Pacific Wagon, Telegraph and Railroad Company | CB&Q | 1861 | 1871 | Clear Creek and Guy Gulch Wagon Road Company | ||
Colorado and Salt Lake Railroad | CB&Q | 1871 | 1872 | Colorado Central Railroad | ||
Colorado and Southeastern Railroad | C&SE | 1909 | 1952 | N/A | ||
Colorado and Southeastern Railway | 1903 | 1909 | Colorado and Southeastern Railroad | |||
Colorado and Southern Railway | C&S, CS | CB&Q | 1898 | 1981 | Burlington Northern Railroad | |
Colorado Southwestern Railway | DRGW | 1888 | 1889 | Rio Grande Junction Railway | ||
Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railway | CCD | 1899 | 1920 | N/A | ||
Colorado and Utah Railway | 1886 | 1892 | Crystal River Railway | |||
Colorado and Wyoming Railroad | CB&Q | 1887 | 1908 | Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | ||
Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Railway | UP | 1914 | 1924 | Northern Colorado and Eastern Railroad | ||
Colorado, Wyoming and Great Northern Railroad | 1894 | 1899 | Book Cliff Railroad | |||
Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Railroad | 1915 | 1921 | Midland Terminal Railway | |||
Cripple Creek District Railway | 1897 | 1899 | Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railway | |||
Crystal River Railroad | 1898 | 1941 | N/A | |||
Crystal River Railway | 1892 | 1898 | Crystal River Railroad | |||
Crystal River and San Juan Railroad | 1906 | 1941 | N/A | |||
Denver Railroad and Land Company | 1886 | 1887 | Denver Railroad, Land and Coal Company | |||
Denver Railroad, Land and Coal Company | 1887 | 1888 | Colorado Eastern Railway | |||
Denver Railway | DRWY | 1989 | 1993 | Denver Rock Island Railroad | ||
Denver and Boulder Valley Railroad | UP | 1870 | 1898 | Union Pacific Railroad | ||
Denver, Boulder and Western Railroad | 1909 | 1919 | N/A | |||
Denver Circle Railroad | ATSF | 1880 | 1886 | Denver and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Denver, Clear Creek and Western Railway | DRGW | 1888 | 1899 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Denver, Cripple Creek and Southwestern Railroad | CB&Q | 1896 | 1899 | Colorado and Southern Railway | ||
Denver, Golden and Salt Lake Railroad | CB&Q | 1881 | 1917 | Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | ||
Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad | D&IM, DIM | 1909 | 1953 | Associated Railroads (AT&SF, CB&Q, CRI&P, C&S and D&RGW) | Electric after 1909 | |
Denver and Inter-Mountain Railway | 1904 | 1909 | Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad | |||
Denver, Lakewood and Golden Railroad | 1890 | 1904 | Denver and Inter-Mountain Railway | |||
Denver, Laramie and Northern Railroad | 1917 | 1917 | Great Western Railway of Colorado | |||
Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railroad | 1910 | 1917 | Denver, Laramie and Northern Railroad | |||
Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railway | 1906 | 1910 | Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railroad | |||
Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway | CB&Q | 1889 | 1898 | Colorado and Southern Railway | ||
Denver, Longmont and Northwestern Railroad | CB&Q | 1881 | 1883 | Colorado Northern Railway | ||
Denver, Marshall and Boulder Railway | CB&Q | 1885 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Denver and Middle Park Railroad | CB&Q | 1883 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Denver and Montana Railroad | CB&Q | 1899 | 1908 | Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | ||
Denver and New Orleans Railroad | CB&Q | 1881 | 1886 | Denver, Texas and Gulf Railroad | ||
Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway | DRGW | 1902 | 1913 | Denver and Salt Lake Railroad | ||
Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company | UP | 1867 | 1880 | Union Pacific Railway | ||
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | DRGW | 1886 | 1921 | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | ||
Denver and Rio Grande Railway | DRGW | 1870 | 1886 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | D&RG, D&RGW, DRGW | DRGW | 1920 | 1997 | Union Pacific Railroad | |
Denver and Salt Lake Railroad | D&SL | DRGW | 1912 | 1927 | Denver and Salt Lake Railway | |
Denver and Salt Lake Railway | D&SL | DRGW | 1926 | 1947 | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | |
Denver and Salt Lake Western Railroad | DRGW | 1924 | 1947 | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | ||
Denver and Santa Fe Railway | ATSF | 1887 | 1900 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Denver, South Park and Hill Top Railway | CB&Q | 1896 | 1897 | Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway | ||
Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad | CB&Q | 1873 | 1889 | Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway | ||
Denver, South Park and Pacific Railway | CB&Q | 1872 | 1873 | Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad | ||
Denver and Southwestern Railway | 1899 | 1904 | Cripple Creek Central Railway (holding company) | |||
Denver Terminal Railroad | DTMR | 1986 | 1989 | Denver Railway | ||
Denver, Texas and Gulf Railroad | CB&Q | 1885 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Denver, Texas and Fort Worth Railroad | CB&Q | 1887 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Denver Union Railway and Terminal Company | UP | 1889 | 1900 | Union Pacific Railroad | ||
Denver Union Terminal Railway | DUT | ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ RI/ UP | 1912 | 2001 | Regional Transportation District | |
Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad | CB&Q | 1880 | 1908 | Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | ||
Denver, Western and Pacific Railway | CB&Q | 1880 | 1885 | Denver, Marshall and Boulder Railway | ||
Elk Mountain Railway | 1887 | 1898 | Crystal River Railroad | |||
Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad | 1893 | 1915 | Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Railroad | |||
Fort Collins Development Railway | CB&Q | 1902 | 1908 | Colorado Railroad | ||
Fort Worth and Denver Railway | FWD | CB&Q | 1881 | 1982 | Burlington Northern Railroad | |
Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railway | CB&Q | 1881 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Gilpin Railroad | CB&Q | 1909 | 1917 | N/A | ||
Gilpin Tramway Company | CB&Q | 1886 | 1906 | Gilpin Railroad | ||
Golden Circle Railroad | 1896 | 1915 | Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Railroad | |||
Golden City and Gilpin County Wagon and Railroad Company | CB&Q | 1870 | 1872 | Colorado Central Railroad | ||
Golden City and South Platte Railway and Telegraph Company | 1872 | 1880 | N/A | |||
Grand Valley Railway | DRGW | 1886 | 1887 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific Railway | CB&Q | 1881 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
Greeley Terminal Railway | 1909 | 1917 | N/A | |||
Holly and Swink Railway | ATSF | 1906 | 1907 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Kansas–Colorado Railroad | 1908 | 1910 | Colorado–Kansas Railway | |||
Kansas Pacific Railway | UP | 1869 | 1880 | Union Pacific Railway | ||
Laramie, Hahns Peak and Pacific Railway | UP | 1911 | 1914 | Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Railway | ||
Laramie, North Park and Western Railroad | UP | 1924 | 1951 | Union Pacific Railroad | ||
Larimer and Routt County Railway | UP | 1907 | 1914 | Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Railway | ||
Leadville Mineral Belt Railway | CB&Q | 1898 | 1900 | Colorado and Southern Railway | ||
Leadville, Ten Mile and Breckenridge Railway | DRGW | 1880 | 1880 | Denver and Rio Grande Railway | ||
Little Book Cliff Railway | 1889 | 1894 | Colorado, Wyoming and Great Northern Railroad | |||
London, South Park and Leadville Railroad | 1882 | 1885 | South Park and Leadville Short Line Railroad | |||
Longmont and Erie Railroad | CB&Q | 1878 | 1881 | Denver, Longmont and Northwestern Railroad | ||
Midland Terminal Railway | MTR | 1892 | 1949 | N/A | ||
Missouri Pacific Railroad | MP | MP | 1917 | 1997 | Union Pacific Railroad | |
Missouri Pacific Railway | MP | 1887 | 1917 | Missouri Pacific Railroad | ||
Mount Carbon, Gunnison and Lake City Railroad and Coal Transportation Company | CB&Q | 1877 | 1881 | Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad | ||
Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado RailNet | NKCR | 1996 | 2005 | Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway | ||
Northern Colorado and Eastern Railroad | UP | 1924 | 1924 | Laramie, North Park and Western Railroad | ||
Northwestern Terminal Railroad | DRGW | 1927 | 1968 | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | ||
Northwestern Terminal Railway | DRGW | 1904 | 1927 | Northwestern Terminal Railroad | ||
Platt Valley Railway | 1993 | 1993 | Denver Rock Island Railroad | |||
Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad | ATSF | 1875 | 1900 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | ||
Pueblo and Salt Lake Railway | ATSF | 1873 | 1875 | Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad | ||
Pueblo and State Line Railroad | MP | 1887 | 1910 | Missouri Pacific Railway | ||
Pueblo Union Depot and Railroad Company | ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ MP/ RI | 1887 | ||||
Rio Grande Railroad | DRGW | 1900 | 1908 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Rio Grande Gunnison Railway | DRGW | 1891 | 1908 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Rio Grande Junction Railway | DRGW | 1889 | 1947 | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | ||
Rio Grande, Pagosa and Northern Railroad | DRGW | 1899 | 1908 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Rio Grande and Pagosa Springs Railroad | 1895 | 1914 | N/A | |||
Rio Grande, Pueblo and Southern Railroad | DRGW | 1902 | 1908 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Rio Grande Sangre de Cristo Railroad | DRGW | 1901 | 1908 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Rio Grande Southern Railroad | DRGW | 1889 | 1951 | N/A | ||
Rio Grande Western Railway | DRGW | 1889 | 1908 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Road Canon Railroad | CB&Q | 1889 | 1890 | Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | ||
St. Joseph and Iowa Railroad | RI | 1888 | 1888 | Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway | ||
San Luis Southern Railway | 1909 | 1928 | San Luis Valley Southern Railway | |||
San Luis Valley Southern Railway | 1928 | 1953 | Southern San Luis Valley Railroad | |||
Silverton Railroad | 1887 | 1904 | Silverton Railway | |||
Silverton Railway | 1904 | 1922 | N/A | |||
Silverton, Gladstone and Northerly Railroad | 1899 | 1915 | Silverton Northern Railroad | |||
Silverton Northern Railroad | 1895 | 1941 | N/A | |||
South Park and Leadville Short Line Railroad | 1885 | 1900 | N/A | |||
Southern San Luis Valley Railroad | SSLV | 1953 | 1996 | N/A | ||
State Line and Denver Railway | DRGW | 1889 | 1889 | Rio Grande Western Railway | ||
Trinidad Railway | TRIN | 1992 | Still exists as a joint lessor of the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad | |||
Trinidad and Denver Railroad | DRGW | 1886 | 1888 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Trinidad and Denver Terminal and Railway Company | DRGW | 1888 | 1899 | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | ||
Uintah Railway | 1903 | 1939 | N/A | |||
Union Depot and Railroad Company | ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ RI/ UP | 1879 | 1899 | Union Depot and Railway Company | ||
Union Depot and Railway Company | ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ RI/ UP | 1899 | 1914 | Denver Union Terminal Railway | ||
Union Pacific Railway | UP | 1880 | 1898 | Union Pacific Railroad | ||
Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division | UP | 1866 | 1869 | Kansas Pacific Railway | ||
Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway | CB&Q | 1890 | 1898 | Colorado and Southern Railway | ||
Union Pacific, Lincoln and Colorado Railway | UP | 1888 | 1898 | N/A | Sold at foreclosure; no property in Colorado | |
Walsenburg and Western Railway | CB&Q | 1907 | 1910 | Colorado Railroad |
- Electric
- Arkansas Valley Railway, Light and Power Company
- Boulder Electric Light and Power Company
- Canon City and Cripple Creek Railroad
- Colfax Electric Railway
- Colorado Railway, Light and Power Company
- Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railway (CCD)
- Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway
- Colorado Springs Rapid Transit Company
- Colorado Springs and Suburban Railway
- Cripple Creek District Railway
- Denver City Cable Railway
- Denver City Traction Company
- Denver City Tramway Company
- Denver Consolidated Tramway Company
- Denver Electric and Cable Railway
- Denver, Globeville and Golden Rapid Transit Company
- Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad (D&IM, DIM)
- Denver and Inter-Mountain Railway
- Denver and Interurban Railroad
- Denver, Lakewood and Golden Railroad
- Denver and Northwestern Railway
- Denver and South Platte Railway
- Denver Tramway Company
- Denver Tramway Extension Company
- Denver Tramway Terminals Company
- Durango Railway and Realty Company
- Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad
- Fort Collins Municipal Railway
- Grand Junction Electric Railway
- Grand Junction and Grand River Valley Railway
- Grand River Valley Railway
- Greeley and Denver Railroad
- Manitou Incline Railway
- Metropolitan Railway
- Midland Terminal Railway
- Pueblo and Suburban Traction and Lighting Company
- Southern Colorado Power and Railway Company
- South Denver Cable Railway
- Trinidad Electric Transmission, Railway and Gas Company
- West End Street Railroad
See also
[edit]- Transportation in Colorado
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- Outline of Colorado
Notes
[edit]- ^ This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.
References
[edit]- Hilton, George W. (1990). American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-2369-9.