Steam Trains, Harvest Haunt and Holiday Magic!
Happy September! As fall approaches, the Colorado Railroad Museum is gearing up for a season full of exciting events and engaging programming! Whether you’re looking forward to Halloween and the Fall Harvest, a magical THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride experience, or the power of coal-fired steam locomotives, we have something special in store. This month, tickets will go on sale for events and activities featuring all of these! Plus, there’s more going on as you’ll see in this edition of the Telegrapher. Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming:
- Goose 7 Gallops to Nevada: The Museum’s iconic Colorado “Galloping Goose” motor No. 7 is traveling to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, Nevada, for the Labor Day Weekend! Goose No. 7 will be participating in the “Motor Car Rally” that weekend, so if your plans are taking you to Nevada for the holiday weekend, stop in and say hello.
- Thomas is Sold Out (Again): The Museum’s popular Day Out With Thomas™ event has completely sold out well in advance for 2026, just as it has every year since 2020. Walk-up tickets will NOT be available for sale during the actual event. Only Thomas ticket holders will be admitted to the Museum grounds during the event—please note, this also applies to Museum members. We look forward to seeing you weekdays in September or anytime in October!
- THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Tickets: The magical holiday theatrical experience THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride returns to the Colorado Railroad Museum, with the 2026 Season Opening Night scheduled for Friday, November 6. Tickets go on sale later this month! This event has sold out completely every year since 2020, so you won’t want to delay.
- Train Rides through 2026: Please note that during the Day Out With Thomas™ event weekends, September 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27, 2026, the Museum will be closed to general admission. Only guests with Day Out With Thomas™ tickets will be admitted, and walk-up sales will NOT be available on these dates. Regular train rides (Saturdays) and Goose rides (Sundays) will resume starting Saturday, October 3 through Sunday, October 25. These weekends will be your last chance to catch a daytime train ride or Galloping Goose until 2026!
- Colorado Rails & Cocktails: Friday, October 2, the Museum’s popular lecture series concludes for 2026! This evening the spotlight will be on the history, excursions and personalities of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, with photographer and historian Jim Ehernberger presenting!
- Harvest Haunt Express: This fan-favorite event returns to the Museum the weekend of October 17-18, and tickets are now on sale for this seasonal favorite featuring Fall Harvest and Halloween-themed fun along with Steam Train Rides!
All the topics above, and more, are covered in this month’s edition of the Telegrapher. Thank you for your continued support of the Colorado Railroad Museum, and its mission of bringing Colorado’s rich railroad heritage to life all year long. All Aboard!
Paul Hammond
Executive Director
IN THIS ISSUE:
Goose 7 Gallops to Carson City
Day Out With Thomas™ SOLD OUT
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ On-Sale Dates
Colorado Rails & Cocktails: Rocky Mountain Railroad Club
Saturday-Sunday Train/Goose Rides (October)
All Aboard the Harvest Haunt Express!
New Photography Exhibit Coming Soon
The Latest Online Content
| |
Goose No. 7 Gallops West for Labor Day!
Guest Appearance in Carson City, Nevada
The Colorado Railroad Museum will be loaning its beloved RGS Galloping Goose “motor” No. 7 to the Nevada State Railroad Museum (NSRM) in Carson City, Nevada, for a weekend “Motor Car Rally” over Labor Day Weekend, September 5-7, 2026. We’re delighted to participate, providing Goose No. 7 with a unique opportunity to travel offsite during 2026, as Colorado celebrates its 150th anniversary and America its 250th.
And what a rally this will be! The event is scheduled to feature more than a half-dozen motor cars while celebrating the 100th anniversary of NSRM’s Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend (TC&GB) motorcar No. 401. Other motor cars to be assembled in Carson City for this event include NSRM’s own Virginia & Truckee (V&T) McKeen “windsplitter” motorcar No. 22; Death Valley Railroad Brill motorcar No. 5 from the Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site located in Bishop, California; replica motorcar “Sarah Kidder” from the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Museum in Nevada City, California; replica Nevada Central motorcar No. 107-C; and replica V&T inspection motorcar No. 24.
The Labor Day Weekend 2026 “Motor Car Rally” event in Carson City will feature motorcar rides and behind-the-scenes tours, plus the opportunity to see the Nevada State Railroad Museum’s celebrated collection. If your Labor Day Weekend travels include Nevada, we encourage you to learn more and purchase tickets to attend! For more information about the Carson City event, visit CarsonRailroadMuseum.org/Motor-Car-Rally/.
| |
Day Out With Thomas™
SOLD OUT (AGAIN!) FOR 2026
Peep! Peep! Thomas the Tank Engine is rolling into Golden, Colorado for the Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour this September. Tickets for this event are now completely SOLD OUT—and once again in record time!
Please note, this Day Out With Thomas™ event has limited capacity, and no additional tickets will be sold. Walk-up tickets WILL NOT be available for sale during the actual event dates. For those who were determined purchasers, we look forward to seeing you later this month!
As a reminder, General Admission and Train Rides are NOT available on the weekends of September 6-7, 13-14, and 20-21. Only Thomas ticket holders will be admitted to the Museum grounds during the event—please note, this also applies to Museum members. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience, and look forward to seeing you weekdays in September or anytime in October!
| |
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
On-Sale to Public Tuesday, September 29
The Colorado Railroad Museum’s unique, three-part theatrical production of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride will return to Golden, Colorado in November and December 2026! Join the fun and relive the magic as you step into the action of this beloved Holiday Tradition. Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning Tuesday, September 29. This event has sold out every year for the past several years, so you won’t want to delay!
For those of you who have experienced the theatrical holiday magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride event previously, the Museum has been hard at work to make the 2026 season more magical than ever! This year’s event will once again feature a three-part theatrical extravaganza that begins in our heated THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Pavilion, where guests will enjoy festive caroling, a lively performance of the “Hot Chocolate” song and dance—served with cocoa and cookies of course—and a dramatic re-enactment of The Polar Express story. From there, guests will board vintage coaches pulled by a coal-fired steam locomotive for a journey to the North Pole, where cheerful elves and Santa Claus himself will present the First Gift of Christmas. A special opportunity to visit with Santa concludes the evening. With fresh surprises woven into the experience each year, this cherished holiday tradition continues to delight guests of all ages.
As always, an advance purchase opportunity and exclusive discounts will be extended to Museum members one week before the public on-sale date. Members – please check to make sure your membership is up-to-date, and watch your email for announcements and special instructions in the coming weeks!
The Museum’s THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride pages have been completely updated for the 2026 season, now featuring more details, ticketing options and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet. Click Here to learn more. New for 2026 is a first class option to upgrade to the best seats in the house – both in the Pavilion venue, and on-board the train itself, as you journey to the North Pole. If you’ve never experienced the Colorado Railroad Museum’s version of this magical holiday story, here’s a short video available online for you to view as well!
Not a Museum Member? Membership in the Colorado Railroad Museum has its benefits, including early purchase opportunities to selected events and productions. You also gain the satisfaction of knowing that you’re supporting a great cause, too! Learn more about Museum Membership by Clicking Here.
| |
Colorado Rails & Cocktails: The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club
Friday, October 2, 2026
Delve into a fascinating evening of captivating stories and imagery as historian and photographer Jim Ehrenberger presents Rails & Cocktails: The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club. Learn about the long history and accomplishments of the Rocky Club, and glimpse a selection of the many excursions that were operated as well as some of the Club’s unique personalities throughout the years. Through vivid imagery and light-hearted narration, Ehrenberger will share the history of this celebrated Club from its late 1930s inception to its 2025 merger with the Colorado Railroad Museum. Join us for an evening of great stories and unique history you won’t find anywhere else.
Ages 21 and older only, please. Tickets include light finger foods plus two tickets good for your choice of beer, wine or soft drinks. Doors open at 6 p.m. and lecture begins promptly at 7 p.m. Click Here to Purchase Tickets!
| |
Saturday-Sunday Train & Goose Rides in October
Limited Rides for Remainder of 2026!
The Colorado Railroad Museum’s popular summer program of Thursday-Sunday activities and train rides has officially ended for 2026. These will return from mid-May through early August in 2027! The 2026 operating season has just a few more weekends left.
During the weekends of September 6-7, 13-14, and 20-21, General Admission and Train Rides will NOT be available (Only Day Out With Thomas™ ticketholders will be admitted these weekends). In addition, all train rides are completely SOLD OUT on Saturday, September 27.
For three Sundays only this fall—October 4, 11 and 25— the Museum will offer Sunday Goose Rides! Catch a ride on Rio Grande Southern’s iconic self-propelled “motor” No. 7 and experience the unique charm of the Galloping Goose during these special Sunday departures. This limited opportunity is perfect for families and rail enthusiasts alike. Don’t miss your chance to ride aboard this unique piece of Colorado’s rail heritage, CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!
Want to take that final, regular Saturday Train Ride before our 2026 Operating Season concludes? Join us this Saturday and Sunday (Labor Day Weekend) for diesel-powered train rides. Then, train rides will resume from Saturday, October 4 through Saturday, October 24. Our popular Harvest Haunt Express event will include Steam Train Rides on Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19 as well! (See more details elsewhere in this edition of the Telegrapher).
Our final regular ride opportunities of the year will operate on Saturday, October 24 (Diesel-powered train) and Sunday, October 25, (Galloping Goose), then trains will NOT operate until our regular operating season resumes Saturdays beginning in mid-January 2027.
Train Ride tickets (in addition to regular Museum Admission) are $5 adults, $2 ages 2-17 and seniors. Remember, Museum Membership provides free admission and regular train rides year-round! Not a member? Visit ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org/Membership to learn more, or call us at (303) 279-4591 during business hours. Click Here to visit our Live Calendar and choose which days you’d like to visit. All Aboard!
| |
Harvest Haunt Express!October 17-18, 2026
As the fall harvest gets into full swing, join us at the Colorado Railroad Museum for a fun and relaxing Harvest Haunt Express event, featuring family fun plus steam-powered train rides. Guests are encouraged to come in costume for Trick-or-Treating on Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, 2026!
Enjoy the Olde Railroaders Silly Graveyard, “not-so-spooky” Haunted Railcars, a hay bale maze, and the Museum’s own mascot, Spike the Railroad Dog! Bring your camera and snap a picture of your group’s costumes in front of the Pumpkin Patch cart. Tasty treats and lunchtime food options will be available for purchase.
Grounds open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, with special programs and activities taking place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Steam Train Rides depart every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Order Online in Advance & SAVE $5 per ticket! Online Admission & Ride: $17 Adults, $7 Kids (ages 2-17), $15 Seniors (ages 60+). Museum Members and children under 2 are FREE. Prices higher at the door.
Advance purchase is recommended, especially if you have a specific Train Ride time in mind. Capacity is limited, and this event has a history of selling out in advance (especially Saturday). Advance ticket purchase is recommended to avoid disappointment! Book your tickets online today for the Harvest Haunt Express by Clicking Here. All Aboard!
| |
New Exhibits!
Coming Soon: “Water” Photography Winners plus Kalmbach Art Collection
Opening at the end of September at the Colorado Railroad Museum will be the winners of the prestigious Center for Railroad Photography & Art's 2026 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Awards! The 2026 exhibit of 16 visually engaging works (Judges Also Liked honorees are included along with the winners) is included with regular Museum admission, and located in the main hallway and staircase areas of the Museum Depot.
The 2026 contest theme was "Water,” and the images definitely bring the theme to life visually. The image shown here (of a Coaster commuter train at Batiquitos Lagoon along the Southern California coastline) took second prize in the color category, and was captured by Coloradan Bryan Bechtold of Salida. To preview these images online, visit RailPhoto-Art.org/Awards/ and then make a date to see them for yourself on display at the Colorado Railroad Museum!
Each year, the Center for Railroad Photography & Art holds a contest that attracts some of today’s finest and most creative photographers. The winning photographs are displayed at the Colorado Railroad Museum as part of our goal to showcase not only Colorado’s rich railroad history, but also the many creative people —around the world—who keep the spirit of railroading alive and well in the 21st century.
In October (exact opening date TBA), the Museum will unveil a new exhibit showcasing the corporate art collection of Kalmbach Publishing, longtime publisher of Trains and Model Railroader magazines. Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to share this unique collection of artworks commissioned for book covers and magazine articles, joined by some “commissioned artworks” from selected Colorado railroads for context and contrast. This traveling exhibition has been created by the Center for Railroad Art & Photography.
| |
The Latest Online Content
Virtual Programs Online!
During the month of August, the Colorado Railroad Museum’s team has once again created new programs that YOU can experience in the comfort of your own home. All Aboard, Online!
New episodes of our popular series are now available, including the latest Storytime & Craft, featuring a fun craft activity that younger children will love doing at home. And, if you’re craving a unique railroad dining option with a side of history, you won’t want to miss our most recent Dining On the Rails post where fresh Colorado tomatoes are served up on a salad with two different French Dressing recipes options, one from the Pullman Company and the other from the Union Pacific Railroad!
This content helps you to experience Colorado’s rich railroading heritage even if you can’t make it to the Museum in person this month. Click Here to search for the latest video offerings on our website!
There’s Lots More Content to Like, Share and Follow! Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, the Colorado Railroad Museum posts interesting tidbits, stories, and videos throughout the week. Come along as we explore a “Railroad Attraction of the Month,” a “Highlight of the Collection” and a “Railroad Personality of the Month” throughout the year. For August, we switched things up a bit and featured two unexpected railroad treasures: Marciano Aguayo (who was featured in the exhibit Traqueros), Galloping Goose No. 7, and the Gunnison Pioneer Museum. Plus, catch up on programs, exhibits, Roundhouse updates, and more. Click Here to see a collected feed of all our Social Media channels and posts, and “find your follow!”
| |
| Thanks to our generous Sponsors & Partners
| |
|
|
|
|
