Spring into Fun: Exciting Activities Ahead!
Happy April—it’s officially spring! As the weather continues to warm up, there’s plenty going on at the Colorado Railroad Museum. This is a great time for a family visit— the Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday. Experience Train Rides, Galloping Goose Rides, Story Time & Craft, Friday Tours and Storybook Tours taking place on selected dates, plus a few surprises. Here’s a preview of what’s heading our way in April 2026:
- Colorado Rails & Cocktails: This Friday, April 3, the popular Rails & Cocktails lecture series returns! This month’s program: “Hell on Wheels Uncovered.” And new for 2026, season tickets are now available for all four Colorado Rails & Cocktails!
- Rail Days for School Groups: Do you know a school group looking for a field trip or outing in April? Public or private, even organized home-schooling groups are all welcome. Send them our way—the Colorado Railroad Museum will be offering special “Rail Days” programming for pre-scheduled school groups Thursday-Friday April 30th and May 1st!
- Small Wonders Weekend: Join us on May 2nd and 3rd for the second annual Small Wonders Weekend! This special celebration of scale model railroading and toy trains invites guests to 'marvel at the minis' while exploring the Museum’s impressive small-scale railroads. Enjoy the intricate layouts operated by the Denver Garden Railway Society and the Denver HO Model Railroad Club, plus special O gauge displays from the High Plains 3 Railers.
- Looking Ahead—May 2026: Starting Thursday, May 14, the Colorado Railroad Museum will once again offer Train Rides and special programming every Thursday-Sunday, through mid-August! Also in May, our special weekend for rail enthusiasts, “Colorado Crossings,” will return on May 16-17. For families, the popular Dinosaur Express Train is also just around the corner, taking place over the weekend of May 30-31.
Read about all these and more in this issue of the Telegrapher! We appreciate your interest in the Museum, and thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you soon in Golden!
Paul Hammond
Executive Director
IN THIS ISSUE:
Colorado Rails & Cocktails: This Friday!
Saturday Train Rides and Sunday Goose Rides Continue
Traqueros Exhibit Expands
Rail Days for School Groups
Small Wonders Weekend
Looking Ahead: May 2026
The Latest Online Content
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Colorado Rails & Cocktails
This Friday, April 3 – “Hell on Wheels Uncovered” with Riley Limbaugh
Join us this Friday, April 3rd for a special night of railroad history! We are kicking off the 2026 Rails & Cocktails season with a special presentation by Riley Limbaugh. Riley is an archaeology graduate student, currently leading a fieldwork project focused on Julesburg III, the site of the “Hell on Wheels Julesburg,” the only location in Colorado through which the First Transcontinental Railroad passed.
Julesburg III was a Hell on Wheels camp-turned-town in Northeastern Colorado that served the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Besides being Colorado’s only connection to the railroad, the town acted as a major junction for people travelling west and assumed an identity consistent with the Wild West Boomtowns of the era, namely as the "Wickedest City in the West.” In this presentation, Riley will discuss the history of Julesburg III and other section camps (or Hell on Wheels camps) along the railroad, as well as the results of his recent archaeological investigation. Much of Julesburg’s identity has been swept up in the fantasy of the Wild West, so he will examine how the material record of this 19th century camp matches (or doesn’t match) the crazy stories that have run wild over the past 150 years!
Colorado Rails & Cocktails is a unique way to enjoy an evening of Colorado railroad history. Every other month from April to October a unique, illustrated topic is presented by a guest lecturer. Relax, enjoy a beverage, and travel back in time. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., the bar opens at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $20 per person (ages 21 and older only, please), and includes two beverages of your choice (beer, wine or soda) plus snacks and simple hors d’oeuvres.
For the first time ever, the Museum is offering Colorado Rails & Cocktails season tickets! Secure your seat for all four of the 2026 lectures with a bundled pass for $80. Members receive a 10% discount when purchasing the bundle. Don’t miss a single evening of history, engaging conversation, and cocktails! To reserve tickets, Click Here or call the Museum (Tues-Sun 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at 303-279-4591 to reserve your seats today. All Aboard!
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Saturday Train Rides Continue!
(Museum Open Tuesday-Sunday)
Saturday Train Rides continue at the Colorado Railroad Museum, with even more chances to ride starting Thursday, May 14, when Train Ride frequency increases to Thursday-Sunday through mid-August. Until then, Sunday Goose Rides are available through May 10, and Tuesday Goose Rides will operate on select dates through early May. Due to overwhelming popularity, the Museum has yet again expanded its Goose ride offerings! Goose rides depart every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lunch break for the crew at 12:20 p.m. (no departure at that time). Click here for the full Galloping Goose operating schedule!
The 2026 operating season features trains pulled by one of our trusty diesel-electric locomotives. We recommend advance ticket purchase; on busy days selected departures often sell out. Regular Train Rides depart every half-hour 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). Members, don’t forget that you can also book your tickets in advance, at no charge, for regular train rides! To reserve your tickets in advance, Click Here!
Train Tickets (in addition to 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. All Aboard for springtime train rides in Golden!
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Traqueros Exhibit Expands
New Interactive Digital Kiosks Added!
Since it opened this past October, the Colorado Railroad Museum has been proud to share the largely untold stories of Traqueros and Braceros through the exhibit Traqueros: Mexican Trackworkers and the American Railroad. In March, the Museum was thrilled to re-launch the exhibition with new interactive digital enhancements, made possible by a generous grant from the Anschutz Foundation.
These enhancements offer visitors meaningful, hands-on opportunities to engage with the history and lasting contributions of Mexican trackworkers to the American railroad industry. When you are next at the Museum, we invite you to check out the exhibit’s new digital kiosks which offer content surrounding the culture of traqueros and braceros as well as the opportunity to listen to actual oral histories from these proud workers and their descendants.
Also now part of the exhibition is a short video that highlights Jose Aguayo, who tells the story of his traquero father’s determination and dedication to overcoming hardship for the advancement of his family. Starting in Mexico, and traveling through the Southwest to settle in Colorado, this story is an inspiration to all who aspire to the American Dream.
Additionally, a new exhibit opening in the Depot Upper Gallery later this month will focus on Colorado in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of statehood. This exhibit will explore mining, agriculture, tourism, and the vital role the railroads played in the state’s growth. Spanning from Colorado’s early days as a state, and looking ahead at what could be in store for the state’s future, the exhibition will feature artifacts and engaging displays highlighting the major industries influenced by the presence of railroads across Colorado, as well as their shared impact on the state’s economy and development.
In 2026, as Colorado commemorates its 150th anniversary and America its 250th, the Colorado Railroad Museum is proud to share the heritage of the railroad as an important contributor. This transformative technology, which has been constructed, operated, patronized and financed by a diverse array of people over time, is truly one of the cornerstones of Colorado and America as we know them today. For more information about these Museum exhibits, Click Here!
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Rail Days: A Colorado Field Trip
Do You Know a School Group Looking for an Outing?
On Thursday and Friday, April 30th and May 1st, the Colorado Railroad Museum will celebrate the impact railroads have had on Colorado through a variety of hands-on activities, when it offers “Rail Days: A Colorado Field Trip” programming! This year’s theme is “150 Years of Colorado Railroading,” and the program offers a variety of educational activities that support curriculum goals for Colorado school children.
Explore how railroads shaped Colorado and the West through hands-on activities that bring history to life. Ride behind a historic Colorado locomotive, try your hand at Morse code, learn about how mining and tourism impacted the railroads, push the Museum’s 55-ton turntable, and more. As part of this program, local cultural partner organizations will be on hand to help share the many stories about how railroads have transformed our world here in Colorado!
Admission is $6 per student (includes train ride) with free entry for teachers and chaperones, for pre-registered school groups only. For more information or to register a school group, please Click Here!
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Small Wonders Weekend
Discover the exciting world of smaller-scale railroading!
Join us at the Colorado Railroad Museum on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, 2026, for an exciting new event: Small Wonders Weekend! This special celebration of scale model railroading and toy trains invites guests to "marvel at the minis" while exploring the Museum’s incredible small-scale railroads. Featured layouts include the extensive on-site displays operated by the Denver Garden Railway Society and the Denver HO Model Railroad Club. But don’t let the “small” fool you, full-size steam Train Rides will be running all weekend long! Climb aboard and take a ride behind an authentic coal-burning steam locomotive .
For this special weekend, the High Plains 3 Railers will set up a modular O gauge layout in the Museum Pavilion, adding even more miniature trains in action! That means visitors will get to see O gauge, HO, and G gauge trains running throughout the event. Plus, guests will have the unique opportunity to operate trains on the Garden Railroad layout via remote control, under supervision. Live operators will also be on hand in the Museum Depot basement to run the HO model railroad and answer questions.
Throughout the day, videos highlighting the history of both layouts will play on the Pavilion’s video wall, while live presentations in the Depot’s Upper Gallery will explore key topics like the differences between toy trains and scale models, as well as scale vs. gauge in miniature railroading. Whether you're a longtime model train enthusiast or just getting started, this event is perfect for all ages!
Activities and demonstrations take place each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Train Rides will depart every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regular admission and train ride pricing applies. Advance purchase of admission and train ride tickets is recommended. Admission: $12 adults, $5 ages 2-17, $10 age 60+. Rides: $5 adults, $2 ages 2-17. Free for Museum members and children under age 2. For tickets and more info, Click Here!
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Looking Ahead - May 2026!
A Month of Activities and More!
May is just around the corner, and so are many exciting events—including Small Wonders Weekend and more! On Sunday, May 10, scheduled Galloping Goose Rides will be offered for the final time this spring (rides will return on select weekends this fall). Then, starting on Thursday, May 14, Train Rides will expand for the summer season, departing every Thursday-Sunday!
The weekend of May 16-17, the Museum will host its annual weekend event for rail enthusiasts, Colorado Crossings. This year’s event will feature a Florence & Cripple Creek reunion with two coal-burning steam locomotives in operation, along with special activities, cab tours, and more. Then, the very last weekend of May will see the return of our popular Dinosaur Express Train event (featuring steam locomotive-pulled trains)!
Later in June, Colorado Power Days will return to the Museum, with a focus on various kinds of “power” – internal and external combustion engines, including vintage autos and tractors and more! We’ll have more details available soon, and of course you’re always welcome to check our website for the latest information. All Aboard for summer fun at the Museum!
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The Latest Online Content
Virtual Programs Available Online!
During the month of March, the Colorado Railroad Museum’s staff team has again created a full lineup of new programs that YOU can experience in the comfort of your own home. All Aboard, Online!
Now available are new episodes of all our popular, ongoing series, including the latest Storytime & Craft episode. And, if you’re craving delicious food you won’t want to miss our most recent Dining on the Rails post. This month’s post dives into the history of Bracero and Traquero women served with a side of Tamale Pie and Spanish Beans. Another new taste sensation will debut later this 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, TikTok or YouTube, the Colorado Railroad Museum posts interesting tidbits, stories, and videos throughout the week. Come along as we visit a Colorado “Railroad Attraction of the Month” throughout the year (for March this was The Rocky Mountain Train Show), highlight items in the Museum’s collection (for March this was Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway locomotive No. 1.), 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 March, this was Olive Dennis). Click Here to see a collected feed of all our Social Media channels and posts, and “find your follow!”
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