New Exhibits, Fall Harvest, and Holiday Magic Returns!
It’s fall, y’all! The Colorado Railroad Museum is excited about the upcoming season full of new events and exhibits. Whether it’s Halloween and the Fall Harvest fun, experiencing the power of coal-fired steam locomotives, a magical THE POLAR EXPRESS™ theatrical experience, or exploring new exhibits, there’s something to look forward to this season! Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming:
- Colorado Rails & Cocktails -This Friday: The Museum’s popular lecture series concludes for 2026 this coming Friday, October 2! This evening, Jim Ehernberger presents an illustrated program highlighting Colorado's one and only Rocky Mountain Railroad Club!
- New Exhibit: Purposeful Portrayals: The Kalmbach Art collection and Colorado Railroad Promotional Art is an all-new exhibit opening at the Museum on Tuesday, October 20. This new exhibition is all about artworks that were commissioned to illustrate America’s—and Colorado’s—railroads from two different perspectives.
- Harvest Haunt Express: This popular annual event returns to the Museum the weekend of October 17-18, featuring Steam Train Rides and a host of activities! Tickets are selling fast for this annual fall favorite, featuring Harvest, Halloween and Railroad-themed fun.
- Weekend Train Rides through October: Regular train rides resume on Saturdays, specifically October 3, October 10, and October 24. These will be your last chance to catch a daytime, Saturday train ride in 2026! Also, ride behind a Galloping Goose on Sundays this month—October 4, October 10, and October 25!
- New Photography Exhibit: The winners of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s 2026 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Awards have been announced, and these award-winning images will be on display at the Museum starting October 13.
- THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Tickets: The magical holiday theatrical experience THE POLAR EXPRESS™ returns to the Colorado Railroad Museum in November and December, and tickets are NOW ON SALE! This event has sold out completely every year since 2020, so you won’t want to delay!
Welcome to the October edition of the Telegrapher! The Colorado Railroad Museum is bustling as we head into fall, with a host of special events and educational activities all on tap. Thank you for your continued support of the 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:
Colorado Rails & Cocktails: This Friday, October 2
The Harvest Haunt Express Returns!
New Exhibit Opening: Purposeful Portrayals
Saturday Train Rides in October
Sunday Goose Rides
New Photography Exhibit
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Tickets On-Sale NOW
Museum Announces Dome Car Acquisition!
The Latest Online Content
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THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideTrain
Tickets On-Sale NOW!
The Colorado Railroad Museum’s unique, theatrical production of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride returns to Golden, Colorado in November and December 2026! Join the fun and relive the Magic as you step into the action as part of this beloved Holiday Tradition. Tickets are NOW ON SALE! Don’t delay: This event sells out quickly every year!
Sure to re-kindle the Christmas spirit in True Believers, THE POLAR EXPRESS™ offers a unique, three-part theatrical extravaganza of Holiday Magic. Holiday Caroling and the “Hot Chocolate” song and dance kick things off each evening, performed in our dazzling, heated THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Pavilion. A ride to the North Pole aboard vintage coaches, pulled by an authentic, coal-fired steam locomotive, is next. And finally, a visit with Santa tops off the experience!
Our THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride webpages have been updated for the 2026 season, with more details, ticketing options, and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet. If you’ve never experienced the Colorado Railroad Museum’s version of this classic theatrical event, there’s a short video available online for you to view as well! Click Here to learn more.
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Colorado Rails & Cocktails: The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club
This Friday, October 2, 2026
Founded in 1938, the "Rocky Club" was instrumental in generating interest in railroad heritage through the operation of special excursion trips, many over now-long-vanished railroads including Colorado’s famed Rio Grande Southern (RGS). The Club also pioneered in preserving several iconic locomotives and cars, including narrow-gauge RGS steam locomotive No. 20, RGS business car Rico, and Denver & Rio Grande Western “short” caboose No. 0578. These three historic rail vehicles are today proudly exhibited (and occasionally operated) at the Museum.
Join us for an evening of great stories and unique history you won’t find anywhere else! Learn about the Rocky Club's long history and many accomplishments, and enjoy seeing "time machine" images from many of the excursions that were operated, along with some of the Club’s unique personalities throughout the years. Through vivid imagery and light-hearted narration, Ehernberger will share the history of this celebrated Club from its 1938 inception to its 2025 merger with the Colorado Railroad Museum. Click Here to purchase tickets!
Admission: $20 Adults. Ages 21+ only. Admission includes two beverages of your choice (beer, wine, or soda) and snacks. Presentation begins promptly at 7:00 PM, bar opens at 6:30 PM.
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The Harvest Haunt Express Returns!
Saturday and Sunday, 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!
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! 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.
Online Admission & Ride: $17 adults, $7 ages 2-17, $15 seniors ages 60+. Order online to save $5 per ticket! On-Site Admission & Ride: $22 Adults, $12 Kids (ages 2-17), $20 Seniors (ages 60+). Admission is free for members, and those under the age of 2.
Advance ticket purchase is recommended to avoid disappointment, especially if you have a specific Train Ride time in mind. Capacity is limited, and tickets are selling fast. Don't Delay! Book your tickets online today for the Harvest Haunt Express by Clicking Here. All Aboard!
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New Exhibit!
Purposeful Portrayals: The Kalmbach Art Collection and Colorado Railroad Promotional Art
For 90 years, Kalmbach Publishing Company—publisher of Trains and Model Railroader magazines—was a national leader in railroad publications. Kalmbach editorial staff members commissioned artists to create paintings and drawings that appeared on the covers and within the pages of their publications. These vivid artworks brought railroad stories to life, while the accompanying words provided depth and context, enriching the visual experience. This close collaboration among editors, designers, writers, and artists resulted in a unique collection of more than 50 pieces that have captivated railroad enthusiasts for decades.
Kalmbach was sold to a new owner in 2024, and the collection was donated to the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. The Center has prepared a traveling exhibition featuring 34 reproductions of some of the most significant pieces, which will be joined in this exhibit with eight of the publications these artworks were actually featured on/in. In addition, the exhibition is being joined by a companion section that will feature artworks featured by Colorado railroads. These photographs and paintings (several of them used as dining car menu covers) exist today as an enduring catalog of the beauty that existed on the routes of these railroads, both within and outside of Colorado.
Purposeful Portrayals opens on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 and is included with regular Museum admission!
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Saturday Train Rides in October
Final Opportunities until 2027!
Want to take that final, regular Saturday Train Ride before the Museum’s 2026 Operating Season concludes? Join us for three more Saturdays: October 3, October 10 and October 24. Our popular Harvest Haunt Express event will include Steam Train Rides on Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18 as well! (See more details elsewhere in this edition of the Telegrapher). Our final regular Train Rides of the year will operate on Saturday, October 24, 2025, then Saturday trains will NOT run again until our regular operating season resumes, beginning Saturdays in mid-January 2027.
Train Ride tickets (in addition to regular Museum 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 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 during October. All Aboard!
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Sunday Goose RidesClimb Aboard for a ride on a Galloping Goose!
Don’t miss your chance to climb aboard an historic Galloping Goose for three Sundays this fall—October 4, 11, and 25! Ride Rio Grande Southern’s iconic self-propelled “motor” No. 7 and experience the one-of-a-kind charm of the Galloping Goose during these special Sunday departures. This limited opportunity is perfect for families and rail enthusiasts alike. Don’t wait—reserve your tickets today and ride aboard this unique piece of Colorado’s rail history! CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!
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New Photography Exhibit!
Award-Winning Photos Highlight “Water”
On display at the Colorado Railroad Museum starting on October 6 are the winners of the prestigious Center for Railroad Photography & Art's 2026 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Awards!
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.
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 will be located in the hallway gallery of the Museum Depot.
The 2026 contest theme was "Water." To preview these images online, visit RailPhoto-Art.org/Awards/ and then make a date to come see them for yourself displayed at the Colorado Railroad Museum!
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Dome Car
The Colorado Railroad Museum is also excited to announce that a former California Zephyr dome car is joining its collection, a long-desired addition. Last month, the all-stainless steel Budd-built Vista Dome coach began its journey by rail from California to Ohio, where it will be restored to its as-built appearance under contract. When complete, the car will move to Golden, Colorado for display, further enriching the Museum’s renowned collection of Centennial State railroading icons.
Built in 1948 for the Burlington Route (as part of the three-railroad California Zephyr operating partnership, which also included the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Western Pacific railroads), Silver Rifle was acquired by the Museum in 2023 with help from generous donors. Preparations have been quietly under way since then to move the car on its own wheels to a restoration site. The car was previously owned by the Golden Gate Railroad Museum, and on loan for many years to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California.
Read the full Press Release about the car HERE!
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The Latest Online Content
Virtual Programs Available 24/7!
During the month of September, the Colorado Railroad Museum’s staff 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 something delicious with a side of history, you won’t want to miss our most recent Dining on the Rails post—Wine and Railroads!
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 visit a “Railroad Attraction of the Month” throughout the year (for September this was the Denver Broncos Trolley Shuttle), a “Highlight of the Collection” (for September this was the 2026 Creative Photography Award Winners) and a “Railroad Personality of the Month” (for September, this was Sir Topham Hatt of Thomas the Tank Engine fame). You can also see what’s going on with programs and exhibits, in the Museum Roundhouse, and more. Click Here to see a collected feed of all our Social Media channels and posts, and “find your follow!”
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