Thursday-Train Rides plus Thomas Returns!
Happy July! This month promises a continuing schedule of fun and adventure at the Colorado Railroad Museum, with trains operating every Thursday-Sunday through mid-August. And, tickets for Day Out With Thomas™ at the Colorado Railroad Museum go on sale in just a few weeks! Here’s a preview of what’s heading our way this month and next:
- Train Rides every Thursday-Sunday: All month long and continuing through Sunday, August 9th, enjoy a leisurely train ride and experience special activities every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday or take a Galloping Goose ride on Friday!
- Day Out With Thomas™: This popular, annual event returns to the Museum the last three weekends in September. Tickets go on sale to the public starting Tuesday, July 28. This year is Thomas’ Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour, featuring tons of music themed family fun! Museum members, you’ll be receiving a separate email very soon with details about your special advance purchase and discount opportunity!
- Colorado’s 150th Anniversary Celebration: On Saturday, August 1, 2026 (Colorado Admission Day), the Museum is hosting a one day only steam up event to celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary!
- Colorado Rails & Cocktails: The first Friday of August, our popular lecture series continues! Join us on August 7th for Mines, Mills and Railroads of Gilpin County with historian Mark Baldwin.
- Wild West Days! The Museum’s popular late-summer steam-up event returns again on Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9. Enjoy steam train rides pulled by an authentic Colorado coal-burning locomotive, plus fun and engaging activities for the whole family centered around Colorado’s Wild West past.
Read about all these and more in this issue 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. We hope to see you soon in Golden!
Paul Hammond
Executive Director
IN THIS ISSUE:
Colorado Railroad Heritage Week 2026 Highlights
Ongoing in July: Train Rides, Activities Thursday-Sunday
Day Out With Thomas™ returns, tickets on-sale soon!
Colorado 150 Celebration
Colorado Rails & Cocktails – August 7, 2026
August 9-10: Steam Trains and Wild West Days
Join the Colorado Railroad Museum Rail Report
The Latest Online Content
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Highlights of Colorado Railroad Heritage Week 2026:
Governor Polis visits Museum to issue Proclamation!
On June 24—the 156th anniversary of the first train’s arrival in Denver—Governor Jared Polis visited the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden to officially proclaim June 21–27, 2026 as Colorado Railroad Heritage Week. As Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood, the week highlighted the vital role railroads have played in shaping communities, industries, and the state’s economy.
During his visit, the Governor toured the Museum’s exhibits, connected with visitors, read the official proclamation (in full!), and took a ride aboard Galloping Goose No. 7. The Museum also received strong media attention, with features on several news programs, including an in-studio visit to 9NEWS where Executive Director Paul Hammond discussed the significant influence railroads have had in transforming Colorado.
Railroad heritage organizations across the state joined the celebration by offering special events and discounts throughout the week, helping engage Coloradans with the state’s rich rail history. Together, these efforts highlight the importance of preserving Colorado’s railroad legacy and encourage people to explore the many scenic and historic rail experiences found across the state. The Museum’s hope is that through this annual, weeklong initiative, Coloradans across the state will continue to reflect on the importance of the railroads and how they have shaped, and continue to shape, this beautiful state we call home.
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Thrilling Thursdays, Thursday-Sunday Train Rides, and more!
All Month during July!
During the summer months, Train Rides at the Colorado Railroad Museum aren’t just on Saturdays. Join us Thursday-Sunday through August 9, and enjoy not only a train ride but other activities! Due to popular demand, for the remainder of this summer, Friday operations will feature Galloping Goose No. 7, providing guests with even more opportunities to climb aboard this rare and unique railcar. Trains depart every half-hour (Goose rides every 20 minutes) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lunch break for the crew at 12:30 p.m. (no departure at that time).
In addition to Train Rides, enjoy Thrilling Thursday activities every Thursday, with pop-up exhibits, re-enactors, and a variety of activities ongoing from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Every Friday, enjoy two separate Friday Tours with a different focus each week—Click Here to reserve your tour tickets in advance. And every Saturday and Sunday, enjoy Touring the Rails activities! Try your hand at pushing the Museum’s “Armstrong”-powered turntable, for instance, or climb into the cab of a diesel-electric locomotive to experience a simulation of how it operates, or perhaps learn about the time-honored communication system of telegraphy and how it became a big part of railroading beginning in the mid-19th century.
Advance ticket purchase is recommended, especially if you have a preferred time to ride; on busy days, the most popular departure times often sell out. Members, don’t forget that you can also book your tickets in advance, at no charge, for regular train rides! Train Tickets (in addition to admission) are $5 adults and seniors, $2 ages 2-17.
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Day Out With Thomas™ Returns!
Tickets On-Sale to Public Tuesday, July 28th
All Aboard! Thomas the Tank Engine, everyone’s favorite #1 blue engine, is coming back to town and bringing all his favorite musical instruments! Day Out With Thomas: The Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour will be stopping at the Colorado Railroad Museum on the weekends of September 12-13, 19-20, & 26-27, 2026.
Day Out With Thomas™ offers families and friends the chance to celebrate with one of The Biggest Friends of All, Thomas the Tank Engine! Every ticket includes an interactive train ride pulled by a life-sized Thomas. You’ll also enjoy live entertainment, stage shows, lawn games, music-inspired activities in the Music Corner, and plenty of photo opportunities!
Tickets for this Day Out With Thomas™ event go on sale to the public beginning Tuesday, July 28. Ticket prices are $27 for ages 1 and up (service charges and fees may apply). Capacity is limited, and advance tickets are required—walk-up sales will NOT be available. This event has sold out well in advance the past five years, so don’t wait to grab yours! For more information, and to purchase tickets (beginning July 28 for non-members), CLICK HERE.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS:
Current Museum Members, did you know that you will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for Day Out With Thomas™ in advance? Starting one week before the public on-sale date, ticket sales will open exclusively for members (that means you can purchase starting Tuesday, July 21). In addition to this exclusive advance purchase opportunity, you’ll enjoy a limited time-only offer to receive a discount of $2 off every ticket purchased!
Watch your email inbox for a special notification that will be arriving in the coming weeks. If you are a current Museum Member and don’t receive this email, please call us during business hours (closed Mondays) at (303) 279-4591 so we can help. Stay tuned for further emails!
Not a Museum Member? Membership in the Colorado Railroad Museum has its benefits, and you also gain the satisfaction of knowing that you’re supporting a great cause, too! Learn more about Museum Membership by Clicking Here.
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Colorado’s 150th Celebration
Saturday August 1, 2026
Join us at the Museum on Colorado’s Admission Day (August 1) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of statehood. This one-day-only special event will feature steam train rides along with programming centered around William Henry Jackson, a prolific photographer, painter, and explorer famed for his images of the American West, including Colorado!
Join us as we celebrate Colorado’s statehood and the railroad’s influence on the economic and social growth of our state. The event will include special tours of railroad cars Jackson actually rode aboard, plus re-enactments and more. All Aboard!
Tickets include BOTH admission and train rides! Order online in advance and SAVE $5 per ticket! Online tickets: $17 Adults, $7 Kids (ages 2-17), $15 Seniors (ages 60+) On-Site Tickets: $22 Adults, $12 Kids (ages 2-17), $20 Seniors (ages 60+). Free for Museum members (remember to pre-reserve!), and children under age 2. For tickets and more info, Click Here!
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Colorado Rails & Cocktails
Friday, August 7 , 2026
Enjoy an evening of Colorado history! Our August topic is Mines, Mills, and Railroads of Gilpin County. Join Museum volunteer and historian Mark Baldwin as he explores the history of Gilpin County and how its mining towns (including Blackhawk and Central City) were influenced and supported by the railroads. Through stories, images, and historical insights, he will reveal how railroads shaped the region and played a crucial role in the development of the mining industry and local communities.
Admission: $20 Adults (ages 21+ only). Includes 2 beverages of your choice (beer, wine or soda) and snacks. Doors open at 6 p.m., presentation begins promptly at 7 p.m. The presentation will take place in the Museum’s Pavilion. Click Here to Purchase Tickets.
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Wild West Days!
Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9, 2026
As summer begins to wind down, join us at the Colorado Railroad Museum for Wild West Days, featuring special programming plus steam-powered train rides!
Celebrate Colorado’s Wild West heritage, and ride behind one of the last coal-fired steam locomotives operating in Colorado. Enjoy western themed activities, turntable demonstrations, and more happening around the Museum’s 15-acre railyard. Plenty of photo opportunities will of course also be on hand—including the Museum’s very own mascot, Spike the Railroad Dog! Food and tasty treats will also be available for purchase.
Grounds open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with special programs and activities taking place both days between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Train Rides depart every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Remember, NEW this year, online pre-reserved tickets include BOTH admission and a train ride! Order online in advance to SAVE! Online Tickets: $17 Adults, $7 Kids (ages 2-17), $15 Seniors (ages 60+) On-Site Tickets: $22 Adults, $12 Kids (ages 2-17), $20 Seniors (ages 60+). Free for Museum members (remember to pre-reserve!), and children under age 2. For tickets and more info, Click Here!
Advance purchase of admission and train ride tickets is recommended, especially if you have a specific Train Ride time in mind. Capacity is limited, so don’t delay. Book your tickets online today for Wild West Days by Clicking Here!
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All Aboard the Colorado Railroad Museum Rail ReportStay up-to-date with current railroad news plus Rocky Club history!
The Museum is proud to continue sharing its monthly e-newsletter, the Colorado Railroad Museum Rail Report. While it may be familiar to some readers, the Rail Report carries a rich legacy as the longtime publication of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, now an integral part of the Museum family.
Today, the Rail Report remains a key part of the Museum’s e-programming, sharing the latest railroad news, behind-the-scenes insights into rail preservation, highlights from the Club’s storied history, and more. Each issue offers a unique look at the people, projects, and stories that keep Colorado’s railroad heritage alive.
Ideal for railfans, history enthusiasts, and curious minds alike, the Rail Report is a great way to stay connected and informed. Want to receive the Rail Report in your email inbox monthly? Click here to opt in!
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The Latest Online Content
Virtual Programs Available 24/7!
During the month of June, the Colorado Railroad Museum’s staff has yet again created a lineup of new programs that YOU can experience in the comfort of your own home. All Aboard, Online!
Catch the latest installments of all your favorite series now available online, including a brand-new Story Time & Craft episode perfect for young children and families. Craving something tasty? Be sure to check out our newest Dining on the Rails blog which features Moffat Road Excursions and Ham Sandwiches. Another new taste sensation will debut next month! Click Here to search the latest offerings on our website.
There’s Lots More Content to Like, Share and Follow! Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, the Colorado Railroad Museum posts interesting tidbits, stories, and videos throughout each week Come along as we visit a Colorado “Railroad Attraction of the Month” throughout the year (for June, this was the Moffat Tunnel), highlight items in the Museum’s collection (for June, this was D&RGW No. 346) and see what’s going on with programs and exhibits, in the Museum Roundhouse, and more. Plus, follow along for the new monthly feature “Railroad Personality of the Month” (for June, this was David Moffat). Click Here to see a collected feed of all our Social Media channels and posts, and “find your follow!”
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