Riding the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad

Name: The Hotel St. Nicholas
Address: PO Box 1475, Cripple Creek, Colorado, 80813, US
Telephone: 719-689-0856

Colorado offers plenty of train rides for guests but the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad is a unique experience. The old steam engine allows visitors to take a trip into Cripple Creek's past offers a great time for children and adults alike. This railroad trip helps make Cripple Creek one of the bests places in Colorado for family vacations. Take a ride on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad to further enhance your stay at The Hotel St. Nicholas.

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What is Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

Dr. John M. Birmingham opened the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad in 1967. It was originally chosen as the best means for miners to bring gold out of the mountains, since clearances are tight and larger trains couldn't chug their way up the mountains.

The train rides have been a family operation and offer guests a unique view of Cripple Creek. The locomotive is a 15-ton iron horse steam engine. The train glides upon a narrow-gauge railroad.

What does narrow gauge railroad mean?

Narrow gauge railways are smaller than the standard gauge, or the distance between the tracks. The standard gauge is about 4 feet and 8.5 inches. Narrow gauges tend to be from just shy of 2 feet to 3 feet and 6 inches. Some of the benefits of narrow-gauge railroads are the lower costs.

How Much Does it Cost to Ride the Train?

Adult tickets are $17 while children 3-12 are $12 and seniors 65 or older are $15. Children under 3 are free.

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Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad Schedule and Rates

The railroad ride starts at an 1894 depot, 520 E. Carr Ave., and runs south past many historic mines, ending at a deserted mining camp called Anaconda.

The route includes a trip over the old Midland Terminal Wye on a reconstructed trestle. The trip is about 45 minutes in length and covers about four miles. Along with the route, guides on the train will provide educational narration of Cripple Creek and its gold mining past. The train also stops at points of interest, picture spots and the Echo Valley.

The train has a seasonal schedule. It operates from mid-May through Labor Day in September. During the season, the train departs every 70 minutes from the depot. There are handicap and wheelchair accommodations provided with the assistance of the train staff. Be sure to call ahead with any specific arrangements.

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History

Dr. John M. Birmingham opened the railway on June 28, 1967. Two years earlier, Dr. Birmingham, bought two locomotives from the Climax Molybdenum mine of Colorado. One of the trains needed some work but Dr. Birmingham spent his free time restoring the train and building the railroad. The project is a family endeavor as his son Jim runs the train along with his family.

The gift shop and ticket office next to the Midland Depot was originally built in 1894 as the Anaconda station. They were moved from Bull Hill after a 1904 fire destroyed most of the station. It moved again, this time to its current location in 1968. As for the locomotives, the railroad has three in use, each with their own unique stories. Engine 1 is an Orenstein and Koppel built in 1902; Engine 2 is a Henschel built in Germany in 1936; and Engine 3 is a Porter built in 1927. Staff is working to restore Engine 4, which is a Bagnall built in 1947.

Gift Shop

A trip to the railroad wouldn't be complete without a stop at the gift shop and ticket office. The shop includes shirts, books, logo items and Thomas the Tank Engine items, among many others. The shop accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover.