Railroads Of Colorado

Hop aboard and learn about Colorado's fascinating railroad lines, towns, and unique characters that created Colorado's rich railroad history in Claude Wiatrowski's "Railroads of Colorado: Your Guide to Colorado's Historic Trains and Railway Sites." With a focus on the historical significance of each line, "Railroads of Colorado" features more than 160 black-and-white and color photos from the towns and stunning scenery that created the backdrop for these trains to the locomotives themselves. A map that lists each and every railroad line, past and present, allows readers to see the network of lines and how each line served its own purpose. And with information-packed sidebars throughout the book, "Railroads of Colorado" provides many facts that every history buff will enjoy. Referred to as the definitive guide to Colorado's railroads by many, train enthusiasts and historians alike will cherish this informative and historical book.

Just mention Colorado to the avid rail fan and you have their interest; add the term 'narrow gauge' and you have their undivided attention. Why this special interest in the Centennial State's railroads which span 120 years? One reason is Colorado's geography -- relatively flat plains in the eastern third of the state, the rugged Rocky Mountains in the central and southwest areas. Colorado's railroads traverse all these regions -- from a 2285 foot elevation to the heights of 14,000 foot peaks. This geographical configuration makes Colorado railroading second to none.

This is a comprehensive, illustrated account of the growth and decline of American narrow gauge railroading. It documents a long-gone era, bringing to life ancient steam locomotives, railroads and rolling stock that have mostly disappeared without trace. The basic facts and information on the subject are heavily illustrated with photographs, drawings and maps, presented in an encyclopedia format.

A new stunning collection of photographs documenting the railways of the picturesque state of Colorado.

By 1900, the scenic beauty of the PikeA[a¬a[s Peak region had become well known, making it a popular destination with visitors from across the nation. This influx of tourism along with the apex of the Cripple Creek mining boom saw El Paso and Teller Counties become a hub of freight and passenger activity. Over the next 30 years and through challenging economic times, the area would be served by 11 different railroads and an interurban line. The Midland Terminal and the Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railways relied heavily on the revenue gleaned from Cripple Creek ore production, but as the output of these mines declined, so too did the coffers of the railroads that supported them. Larger railroads like the Santa Fe and the Colorado & Southern increased their regional presence through joint agreements and the expansion of local facilities. Still other roads had a more local flair, including the Manitou & PikeA[a¬a[s Peak whose unique cog railway introduced A[a¬AAmericaA[a¬a[s MountainA[a¬A to thousands of tourists. Mass transit also came to the region as the Colorado Springs & Interurban Railway became part of a legacy left by millionaire Winfield Scott Stratton to the people of Colorado Springs.

Gulf to Rockies is a chapter in the business and economic history of the American West and the story of two of the most colorful railroad builders of the nineteenth century. Throughout the 1860s the mineral treasures of Colorado were virtually inaccessible for lack of railroads. Even after a hectic decade of building in the 1870s, the state faced a new sort of isolation: every railroad crossing her borders was controlled by the Union Pacific or the Santa Fe. As a result, the Rocky Mountain region could not hope to compete with the Midwest for the business of the Atlantic seaboard. To remedy this situation, John Evans, former governor of Colorado, organized in 1881 a railroad to run southward from Denver as the first link in a cheap rail-water route via the Gulf of Mexico to the East. Meanwhile ambitious Fort Worth citizens had incorporated the Fort Worth and Denver City in 1873. Not a rail was laid on either road, however, until General Grenville M. Dodge, famed builder of the Union Pacific and the Texas Pacific, took up the Texas project and joined forces with Evans to create the Gulf-to-Rockies route. It took seven years for these men and their associates to mobilize funds and complete the Fort Worth–Denver line, and another decade to establish the system’s independence and solve its financial problems in the face of drought, depression, and intense competition. Gulf to Rockies was written under special agreements with Northwestern University and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, whereby the university relieved Mr. Overton of a part of his duties in order that he might have time for research and writing and the railroad undertook to bear the cost of the research. The Burlington also permitted him free access to all company records and granted him unrestricted freedom to publish his findings.