User:Srwalden/Rail transport in Colorado

As with the rest of the United States, railroads form a vital link in Colorado's economy. Not only does the state depend on rail transport for efficient movement of goods via freight rail, but the state also relies on its connection with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation network, also known as Amtrak.

History

1860s to 1917

Rails were first laid in the territory of Colorado in 1867, when the Union Pacific Railroad, laying its rails across the west toward its meeting with the Central Pacific, crossed the Colorado border in the northeast corner in what would be Sedgwick County near Julesburg, Colorado. The total distance was only 8 miles, following branches of the South Platte River. The number of miles of railroad in the state would remain the same for two years until 1869, when the Denver Pacific began laying rail between Denver and a connection with the Union Pacific's transcontinental railroad in Cheyenne, Wyoming. When the rails reached Denver in May 1870, Denver considerably strengthened its status as the capital of the territory.

Railroads Operating in Colorado

See also List of Colorado railroads

Passenger Rail

Passengers have long enjoyed the scenic beauty of Colorado.

Tourist Railroads

Since the 1950s, Colorado has developed a thriving tourist railroad industry. Owing at first to a surviving mixed train that ran between Durango and Silverton, the state has steadily grown from one tourist operation to several.

Ski Train

Until recent years, ANSCO, which remains one of the corporate successors to the Rio Grande, ran a weekend train during the winter months between Denver's Union Station and the siding at the foot of Winter Park ski area,