All Aboard for Winter Fun!
Happy February. Though it may be winter, there’s still plenty going on at the Colorado Railroad Museum! The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, with Saturday Train Rides operating every weekend, along with Story Time & Craft and special guided tours taking place on selected dates. Also, Galloping Goose Rides have resumed on the first and third Tuesday of each month through early May. Plus, starting on February 15th, the Goose will operate every Sunday through mid-May! We’ve also got plenty of online content to share if an in-person visit isn’t currently part of your plans. Here’s a preview of what’s heading our way at the Museum in February 2026:
- Winter weather can be challenging, but this year’s mild winter has made it a great time to visit the Colorado Railroad Museum. Photographers love the “crowd-free” atmosphere, and families like to explore selected rail cars open for viewing, duck into cabooses, ring the bell on a steam locomotive, and watch model trains in operation!
- Saturday Train Rides continue. All Aboard for a fun and relaxing Saturday experience! Advance ticket purchase is recommended, especially if you have a specific time you wish to ride. Members, you can reserve a train time free of charge online as well. If you’re looking for somewhere to take the family, make the Museum part of your plans!
- Galloping Goose Rides are back, operating on selected Tuesdays through early May and coinciding with our popular, ongoing family programming, including Story Book Tours and Story Time & Craft. Due to the strong response to our Tuesday Goose Rides, the Museum is thrilled to announce that we will also be offering Goose rides every Sunday starting in March!
In this month’s issue of the Telegrapher, we’ve shared all this and more. We appreciate your interest in the Museum, and we also thank you for your continued support. Please stay warm and safe, and we look forward to seeing you soon in Golden!
Paul Hammond
Executive Director
IN THIS ISSUE:
Winter Fun at the Museum!
Saturday Train Rides Continue
Take a Ride aboard a Galloping Goose!
Tuesday Storybook Tours and Story Time & Craft
Looking Ahead: Spring Break
New Online Content - Find Your Follow!
| |
Winter Fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum
Train Rides, Lots to Explore!
Do trains run in the winter? Of course they do! And it can be even more fun hopping aboard a cozy, vintage passenger car at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, with Saturday Train Rides departing from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Choose from heated, fully enclosed coaches or open-air outdoor excursion cars (weather permitting). For a completely different experience, ride in the self-propelled, uniquely Colorado “Galloping Goose” on the first and third Tuesdays of each month through early May, and also every Sunday from mid-February through mid-May (see more details in this Telegrapher edition).
But there’s more: Watch tiny trains go over bridges and through tunnels on a gigantic and fun indoor HO model railroad, visit the Roundhouse and take a peek at current projects, or join a Friday Tour to learn more about Colorado’s railroad history. There’s also an ongoing exhibition highlighting the often untold stories of the Mexican railroad workers who built and maintained America’s railways, an exhibit showcasing award-winning railroad photography, and dozens of steam and diesel locomotives, passenger and freight cars, cabooses, and more to explore.
As always, the Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On days where winter weather is especially challenging, call us at (303) 279-4591 to make sure we’re welcoming guests. There are occasional days when the snow is so deep, or the ice so slick, that it’s simply not safe for us to open the Museum. But most of the time the Museum team is here like clockwork, so you can enjoy your visit.
| |
Saturday Train Rides
(Museum Open Tuesday-Sunday)
Saturday Train Rides have resumed for 2026 and will continue through mid-May! After that, frequency increases for the summer with Train Rides available Thursday-Sunday mid-May through mid-August. Trains 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).
The 2026 operating season features trains pulled by one of our trusty diesel-electric locomotives, with both open-air and enclosed coaches for your enjoyment (weather-dependent). We recommend advance ticket purchase; on busy days selected departures often sell out. Members, don’t forget that you can also book your tickets in advance, at no charge, for regular train rides! Click Here to purchase tickets.
Train Tickets (in addition to regular admission) are $5 adults and seniors, $2 ages 2-17. Remember, Museum Membership provides free admission and regular train rides year-round! Not a member? Visit www.ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org/membership to learn more, or call us at (303) 279-4591 during business hours. All Aboard!
| |
Take a Ride aboard a Galloping Goose
Selected Tuesdays and Every Sunday through early May
The Colorado Railroad Museum is pleased to announce the return of Galloping Goose Rides in 2026. The Museum’s unique Galloping Goose self-propelled “motor” operates on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from mid-January through early May! And, in response to the overwhelming popularity of our Tuesday rides, the Museum is thrilled to expand the schedule to include Sunday Goose Rides starting in March and running through mid-May! Rides will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on these dates. Plus, on Tuesdays, the Goose Rides coincide with family-friendly programming at the Museum, offering even more fun for visitors. Train Ride tickets (in addition to regular admission) are $5 adults and seniors, $2 ages 2-17.
Galloping Goose No. 7, built in 1936, offers a unique ride experience. Converted from a four-door, 1926 Pierce-Arrow model 33 automobile, it was the final Goose to be built for southwestern Colorado’s famed Rio Grande Southern narrow-gauge railroad. Click Here to view our Train Ride calendar, see when the Galloping Goose will be operating next, and purchase tickets!
Want to learn more before your journey? Click Here to watch No. 7’s Big Train Tour episode for a complete, illustrated history of this last-to-be built Goose. All Aboard!
| |
Tuesday Storybook Tours AND Storytime & Craft Continue!
All Aboard for family friendly fun!
Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for a unique Storybook Tour! Designed for young children and their parents, the tour begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts approximately 45 minutes. Cost is $3 per person, plus Museum admission. The next Storybook Tour takes place on Tuesday, February 3rd.
This one‑of‑a‑kind experience takes you on a journey through the Museum’s railyard, inspired by some of the best children’s literature — railroad‑themed, of course! The Little Engine That Could, The Little Red Caboose, and Donald Crews’ Freight Train all provide wonderful inspiration for this adventure at the Colorado Railroad Museum. CLICK HERE for tickets and more info.
Plus, on the third Tuesday of each month, join us for Story Time & Craft as Museum staff and volunteers share some of their favorite railroad‑themed children’s stories, followed by a fun “make‑and‑take” craft! Recommended for ages 4–6. The next Story Time & Craft takes place on Tuesday, February 17th and is included with General Admission.
Our ongoing Friday Tours also continue each week, each with a different theme. Visit our website for the latest updates and to discover what’s coming up next. Thank you for your continued interest and support!
| |
Looking Ahead: Spring Break
Join us for Spring Break featuring special programming
Need a place to take the kids while they are out of school for Spring Break? The Colorado Railroad Museum has you covered! Enjoy Train Rides, pop‑up exhibits from local cultural partners, a craft project, and a variety of special activities and demonstrations. This year’s Spring Break theme is Trail Blazing Trains, highlighting the quirky and unusual equipment in the Museum’s collection. Join us to learn about cogs, Galloping Geese, funiculars, and more. It’s a full week of hands‑on activities connected to the railroad and the people who shaped it. Mark your calendars now for March 24–27, 2026.
Activities and demonstration take place each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Train Rides will depart every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regular admission fees apply: $17 adults 18+, $15 seniors 60+, $7 ages 2-17, under age 2 free. All Aboard for Spring Break! Train Ride seating is limited, and reservations are recommended: Click Here to reserve yours today!
| |
The Latest Online ContentNew Virtual Programs Released!
Once again, the Colorado Railroad Museum’s staff team has been hard at work in January 2026 to create new programs that YOU can experience in the comfort of your own home. All Aboard, Online!
Our newest Big Train Tour highlights Rio Grande Southern Caboose 0404 and offers a detailed history of this newly restored caboose. If you're in the mood for a taste of rail history paired with a classic cocktail, don't miss our latest Dining on the Rails post, featuring the timeless Martini.
Check out the latest episode of Story Time & Craft, where we read All Aboard A B C by Doug Magee and Robert C. Newman and create a fun craft inspired by the story! These videos help 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 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 visit a Colorado “Railroad Attraction of the Month” throughout the year (for January this was Monuments to Denver’s Early Rail Transit), highlight items in the Museum’s collection (for January this was the Rio Grande Southern caboose 0404), and see what’s going on with programs and exhibits, in the Museum Roundhouse, and more. Plus, follow along for the all-new monthly feature “Railroad Personality of the Month” (for January, this was George Burnham). 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
| |
|
|
|
|
