Trip Report: Royal Gorge Route & Pueblo Railway Museum
Intermountain Chapter members, friends and family gather for a group photo outside of the former Santa Fe Big Dome named Buena Vista.
Intermountain Chapter Group Excursion to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad & Pueblo Railway Museum
The Intermountain Chapter had a very successful group trip to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Cañon City and the Pueblo Railway Museum in Pueblo on July 22nd. Chapter members, friends and family had a great time riding the Royal Gorge Route Railroad through the famous Royal Gorge.
Royal Gorge History
The rail line through the Royal Gorge has a fabled history that almost played out like a soap opera. Many railroads were vying to reach the riches near Leadville, Colorado and the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas (today the Royal Gorge), was one of the best ways to reach it. Both the Denver & Rio Grande and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe both laid claim to the Royal Gorge Route, but there was one problem. The canyon was only wide enough for one railroad… barely. This lead to an actual armed conflict named the Royal Gorge War where the Rio Grande and Santa Fe fought in the gorge and the courts for control over the right-of-way with the Rio Grande eventually winning. The Rio Grande built through the gorge and eventually reached Leadville in 1880, but only after abandoning their plan of building over Raton Pass and ceding southern traffic to the Santa Fe.
This is a very abridged history of the Royal Gorge War, but if you’re interested in learning more about it you can visit this Colorado Central Magazine article for more information.
Royal Gorge Route Trip
The Intermountain Chapter secured spots in a former Santa Fe Big Dome named the Buena Vista for the 12:30pm Lunch Train. Chapter members, family and friends enjoyed beverages and the food prepared onboard for the group before moving to the open air cars to enjoy the spectacular views along the line as the train weaved its way through the gorge. This ride is definitely a “must-do” if you’re interested in Colorado railroading. Check out the “Trip Gallery” below for some photos from the trip from Chapter members.
For more information on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, you can visit their website here.
Pueblo Railway Museum
After the Royal Gorge, the Chapter headed for a quick stop at the Pueblo Railway Museum to see the recently cosmetically restored Santa Fe 4-8-4 #2912 at the Pueblo Depot and the current projects at the museum. The group traversed the museum and grounds to see the historic equipment including the “Rocket Cars” that were tested at the Transportation Technology Center and “The Patriot” locomotive from the Colorado & Wyoming Railway.
Special thanks to the crew at the Pueblo Railway Museum for showing us around! We’ll for sure be back.
Trip Gallery
Special thanks to our bus driver Austin Ward for his careful transportation of Chapter members, friends and family!
Trip Report and Article by Chapter Communications Director Clinton Webb
