The museum houses a rare 1881 Denver & Rio Grande 'Mason Bogie' locomotive, one of the few remaining in existence.
The 15-acre railyard is designed to mimic a working 19th-century railroad terminal.
The collection includes the 'Galloping Goose' motorcars, which were originally created by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad to carry mail and passengers during the Great Depression.
The site hosts a permanent HO scale model railroad that spans thousands of feet of track.
The museum’s library holds the archives of the defunct Colorado & Southern Railroad.
Many of the locomotives on display were saved from the scrap heap during the mid-20th century transition from steam to diesel power.
The Colorado Railroad Museum is a 15-acre outdoor facility located in Golden, Colorado, dedicated to the history of Rocky Mountain railroading. The site features a collection of over 100 narrow and standard-gauge locomotives and historic passenger cars. Visitors can explore a large-scale model train layout housed in the main pavilion. The museum grounds include a restored 1880s-style railroad depot relocated from the town of Denver. Archive collections contain over 500,000 rare photographs, maps, and blueprints documenting regional transportation history. A specialized library on-site provides researchers access to extensive historical rail records. The museum operates a seasonal excursion train that runs on a short loop track around the property.
The elevated viewing platform overlooking the railyard provides the best panoramic shots of the locomotive collection.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes as much of the collection is spread across gravel and dirt paths.
Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the vast majority of the locomotive collection is stored outdoors with minimal shade.
Check the museum website ahead of time for special event days, as these often feature live steam operations.
Do not expect to see all 100+ pieces restored to operational condition; many are preserved in as-found or static display states.
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas; occasionally closed for private events or specific major holidays.
Do not climb on the equipment unless specifically designated as accessible; stay off the active tracks.
