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List of Colorado railroads

Coordinates: 38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)
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A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Colorado.
The location of the State of Colorado in the United States of America.

This list of Colorado railroads identifies the variety of active, historic, and defunct railroads in the U.S. State of Colorado.

Common freight carriers

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Historic attraction carriers

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Private freight carriers

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Passenger carriers

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Colorado rail stations
Fort Morgan
Denver Airport Denver International Airport
Eastlake/124th
61st & Peña
Northglenn/112th
Thornton Crossroads/104th
Peoria
RTD Bus & Rail
Original Thornton/88th
Central Park
Commerce City/72nd
40th & Colorado
38th & Blake
Denver
RTD Bus & Rail Amtrak
41st & Fox
Pecos Junction
Westminster
Clear Creek/Federal
Olde Town Arvada
Arvada Ridge
Wheat Ridge/Ward
Winter Park Resort
Seasonal, weekends only
Fraser–Winter Park
Granby
Lamar
Glenwood Springs
La Junta
Grand Junction
Trinidad
Services
RTD commuter rail
 A 
A Line
 B 
B Line
 G 
G Line
 N 
N Line
Amtrak
Amtrak only
  • Amtrak (AMTK)
  • RTD Rail
  • Colorado San Francisco and Northern LLC.
  • Rockies to the Red Rocks (Rocky Mountaineer)

Defunct railroads

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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

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.

References

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  • Hilton, George W. (1990). American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-2369-9.
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38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)