List of Colorado railroads

This list of Colorado railroads identifies the variety of active, historic, and defunct railroads in the U.S. State of Colorado.

Common freight carriers

Historic attraction carriers

Private freight carriers

Passenger carriers

Colorado rail stations

Legend

California Zephyr

to Chicago

Fort Morgan

40th Ave & Airport Blvd

–Gateway Park

Thornton Crossroads/104th

Peoria

Original Thornton/88th

Central Park

Commerce City/72nd

40th & Colorado

48th & Brighton/

National Western Center

38th & Blake

Denver

41st & Fox

Pecos Junction

Westminster

Seasonal, weekends only

to Chicago

to Emeryville

to Los Angeles

Services

					RTD commuter rail
A					A Line
B					B Line
G					G Line
N					N Line

					Amtrak only

Amtrak (AMTK)
RTD Rail
Colorado San Francisco and Northern LLC.
Rockies to the Red Rocks (Rocky Mountaineer)

Defunct railroads

Name	Mark	System^[a]	From	To	Successor	Notes
Argentine Central Railway			1905	1912	Argentine and Gray's Peak Railway
Argentine and Gray's Peak Railway			1913	1918	N/A
Arkansas Valley Railroad		ATSF	1900	1907	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Aspen Short Line Railway			1888	1893	Colorado Midland Railroad
Aspen and Western Railway			1880	1892	Crystal River Railway
Associated Railroads	none	AT&SF, CB&Q (BN), CRI&P, C&S (BN) and D&RGW	1953	1988	Regional Transportation District	Consortium formed to operate former Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad line to the Denver Federal Center. Service provided alternately by C&S (BN) and D&RGW on behalf of the other owning railroads.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad		ATSF	1873	1895	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	ATSF	ATSF	1895	1996	Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Beaver, Penrose and Northern Railway			1909	1920	N/A
Book Cliff Railroad			1899	1925	N/A
Burlington and Colorado Railroad		CB&Q	1881	1908	Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Burlington Northern Inc.	BN		1970	1981	Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad	BN		1981	1996	Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Busk Tunnel Railway			1890	1900	Colorado Midland Railway
Cadillac and Lake City Railway	CLK		1981	1989	N/A
Canon de Agua Railroad		CB&Q	1889	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Canon City and Cripple Creek Railroad			1897	1915	N/A
Canon City and San Juan Railway		ATSF	1877	1878	Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad
Canon Coal Railway		DRGW	1872	1878	Denver and Rio Grande Railway
Central Kansas Railway	CKRY		1997	2001	Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad	CB&Q	CB&Q	1881	1970	Burlington Northern Inc.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway		CB&Q	1901	1907	N/A	Leased the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway		RI	1888	1891	Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
Chicago, Rock Island and Colorado Railway		RI	1888	1888	Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad	RI, ROCK	RI	1947	1980	Cadillac and Lake City Railway
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway	RI	RI	1888	1948	Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicosa Canon Railway		CB&Q	1889	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Clear Creek and Guy Gulch Wagon Road Company		CB&Q	1871	1873	Colorado Central Railroad
Colorado Railroad			1938	1957	N/A
Colorado Railroad		CB&Q	1906	1930	Colorado and Southern Railway
Colorado Railway		DRGW	1883	1888	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Colorado Central Railroad		CB&Q	1869	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Colorado Central and Pacific Railroad		CB&Q	1866	1869	Colorado Central Railroad
Colorado and Clear Creek Railroad		CB&Q	1865	1866	Colorado Central and Pacific Railroad
Colorado Eastern Railroad			1894	1915	N/A
Colorado Eastern Railway			1888	1894	Colorado Eastern Railroad
Colorado–Kansas Railway			1911	1932	Colorado Railroad
Colorado, Kansas and Pacific Railway	CKP		2000	2003	Towner Railway
Colorado Midland Railroad	CM		1917	1921	Midland Terminal Railway
Colorado Midland Railroad			1893	1897	Colorado Midland Railway
Colorado Midland Railway			1897	1917	Colorado Midland Railroad
Colorado Midland Railway			1883	1893	Colorado Midland Railroad
Colorado and New Mexico Railroad		ATSF	1873	1875	Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad
Colorado Northern Railway		CB&Q	1883	1884	Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad
Colorado and Northwestern Railroad			1904	1909	Denver, Boulder and Western Railroad
Colorado and Northwestern Railway			1897	1904	Colorado and Northwestern Railroad
Colorado and Pacific Wagon, Telegraph and Railroad Company		CB&Q	1861	1871	Clear Creek and Guy Gulch Wagon Road Company
Colorado and Salt Lake Railroad		CB&Q	1871	1872	Colorado Central Railroad
Colorado and Southeastern Railroad	C&SE		1909	1952	N/A
Colorado and Southeastern Railway			1903	1909	Colorado and Southeastern Railroad
Colorado and Southern Railway	C&S, CS	CB&Q	1898	1981	Burlington Northern Railroad
Colorado Southwestern Railway		DRGW	1888	1889	Rio Grande Junction Railway
Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railway	CCD		1899	1920	N/A
Colorado and Utah Railway			1886	1892	Crystal River Railway
Colorado and Wyoming Railroad		CB&Q	1887	1908	Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Railway		UP	1914	1924	Northern Colorado and Eastern Railroad
Colorado, Wyoming and Great Northern Railroad			1894	1899	Book Cliff Railroad
Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Railroad			1915	1921	Midland Terminal Railway
Cripple Creek District Railway			1897	1899	Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railway
Crystal River Railroad			1898	1941	N/A
Crystal River Railway			1892	1898	Crystal River Railroad
Crystal River and San Juan Railroad			1906	1941	N/A
Denver Railroad and Land Company			1886	1887	Denver Railroad, Land and Coal Company
Denver Railroad, Land and Coal Company			1887	1888	Colorado Eastern Railway
Denver Railway	DRWY		1989	1993	Denver Rock Island Railroad
Denver and Boulder Valley Railroad		UP	1870	1898	Union Pacific Railroad
Denver, Boulder and Western Railroad			1909	1919	N/A
Denver Circle Railroad		ATSF	1880	1886	Denver and Santa Fe Railway
Denver, Clear Creek and Western Railway		DRGW	1888	1899	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Denver, Cripple Creek and Southwestern Railroad		CB&Q	1896	1899	Colorado and Southern Railway
Denver, Golden and Salt Lake Railroad		CB&Q	1881	1917	Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad	D&IM, DIM		1909	1953	Associated Railroads (AT&SF, CB&Q, CRI&P, C&S and D&RGW)	Electric after 1909
Denver and Inter-Mountain Railway			1904	1909	Denver and Inter-Mountain Railroad
Denver, Lakewood and Golden Railroad			1890	1904	Denver and Inter-Mountain Railway
Denver, Laramie and Northern Railroad			1917	1917	Great Western Railway of Colorado
Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railroad			1910	1917	Denver, Laramie and Northern Railroad
Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railway			1906	1910	Denver, Laramie and Northwestern Railroad
Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway		CB&Q	1889	1898	Colorado and Southern Railway
Denver, Longmont and Northwestern Railroad		CB&Q	1881	1883	Colorado Northern Railway
Denver, Marshall and Boulder Railway		CB&Q	1885	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Denver and Middle Park Railroad		CB&Q	1883	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Denver and Montana Railroad		CB&Q	1899	1908	Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Denver and New Orleans Railroad		CB&Q	1881	1886	Denver, Texas and Gulf Railroad
Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway		DRGW	1902	1913	Denver and Salt Lake Railroad
Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company		UP	1867	1880	Union Pacific Railway
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad		DRGW	1886	1921	Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Railway		DRGW	1870	1886	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad	D&RG, D&RGW, DRGW	DRGW	1920	1997	Union Pacific Railroad
Denver and Salt Lake Railroad	D&SL	DRGW	1912	1927	Denver and Salt Lake Railway
Denver and Salt Lake Railway	D&SL	DRGW	1926	1947	Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Salt Lake Western Railroad		DRGW	1924	1947	Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Santa Fe Railway		ATSF	1887	1900	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Denver, South Park and Hill Top Railway		CB&Q	1896	1897	Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway
Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad		CB&Q	1873	1889	Denver, Leadville and Gunnison Railway
Denver, South Park and Pacific Railway		CB&Q	1872	1873	Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad
Denver and Southwestern Railway			1899	1904	Cripple Creek Central Railway (holding company)
Denver Terminal Railroad	DTMR		1986	1989	Denver Railway
Denver, Texas and Gulf Railroad		CB&Q	1885	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Denver, Texas and Fort Worth Railroad		CB&Q	1887	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Denver Union Railway and Terminal Company		UP	1889	1900	Union Pacific Railroad
Denver Union Terminal Railway	DUT	ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ RI/ UP	1912	2001	Regional Transportation District
Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad		CB&Q	1880	1908	Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Denver, Western and Pacific Railway		CB&Q	1880	1885	Denver, Marshall and Boulder Railway
Elk Mountain Railway			1887	1898	Crystal River Railroad
Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad			1893	1915	Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Railroad
Fort Collins Development Railway		CB&Q	1902	1908	Colorado Railroad
Fort Worth and Denver Railway	FWD	CB&Q	1881	1982	Burlington Northern Railroad
Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railway		CB&Q	1881	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Gilpin Railroad		CB&Q	1909	1917	N/A
Gilpin Tramway Company		CB&Q	1886	1906	Gilpin Railroad
Golden Circle Railroad			1896	1915	Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Railroad
Golden City and Gilpin County Wagon and Railroad Company		CB&Q	1870	1872	Colorado Central Railroad
Golden City and South Platte Railway and Telegraph Company			1872	1880	N/A
Grand Valley Railway		DRGW	1886	1887	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific Railway		CB&Q	1881	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
Greeley Terminal Railway			1909	1917	N/A
Holly and Swink Railway		ATSF	1906	1907	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Kansas–Colorado Railroad			1908	1910	Colorado–Kansas Railway
Kansas Pacific Railway		UP	1869	1880	Union Pacific Railway
Laramie, Hahns Peak and Pacific Railway		UP	1911	1914	Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Railway
Laramie, North Park and Western Railroad		UP	1924	1951	Union Pacific Railroad
Larimer and Routt County Railway		UP	1907	1914	Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Railway
Leadville Mineral Belt Railway		CB&Q	1898	1900	Colorado and Southern Railway
Leadville, Ten Mile and Breckenridge Railway		DRGW	1880	1880	Denver and Rio Grande Railway
Little Book Cliff Railway			1889	1894	Colorado, Wyoming and Great Northern Railroad
London, South Park and Leadville Railroad			1882	1885	South Park and Leadville Short Line Railroad
Longmont and Erie Railroad		CB&Q	1878	1881	Denver, Longmont and Northwestern Railroad
Midland Terminal Railway	MTR		1892	1949	N/A
Missouri Pacific Railroad	MP	MP	1917	1997	Union Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railway		MP	1887	1917	Missouri Pacific Railroad
Mount Carbon, Gunnison and Lake City Railroad and Coal Transportation Company		CB&Q	1877	1881	Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad
Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado RailNet	NKCR		1996	2005	Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway
Northern Colorado and Eastern Railroad		UP	1924	1924	Laramie, North Park and Western Railroad
Northwestern Terminal Railroad		DRGW	1927	1968	Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Northwestern Terminal Railway		DRGW	1904	1927	Northwestern Terminal Railroad
Platt Valley Railway			1993	1993	Denver Rock Island Railroad
Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad		ATSF	1875	1900	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Pueblo and Salt Lake Railway		ATSF	1873	1875	Pueblo and Arkansas Valley Railroad
Pueblo and State Line Railroad		MP	1887	1910	Missouri Pacific Railway
Pueblo Union Depot and Railroad Company		ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ MP/ RI	1887
Rio Grande Railroad		DRGW	1900	1908	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Rio Grande Gunnison Railway		DRGW	1891	1908	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Rio Grande Junction Railway		DRGW	1889	1947	Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Rio Grande, Pagosa and Northern Railroad		DRGW	1899	1908	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Rio Grande and Pagosa Springs Railroad			1895	1914	N/A
Rio Grande, Pueblo and Southern Railroad		DRGW	1902	1908	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Rio Grande Sangre de Cristo Railroad		DRGW	1901	1908	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Rio Grande Southern Railroad		DRGW	1889	1951	N/A
Rio Grande Western Railway		DRGW	1889	1908	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Road Canon Railroad		CB&Q	1889	1890	Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway
St. Joseph and Iowa Railroad		RI	1888	1888	Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
San Luis Southern Railway			1909	1928	San Luis Valley Southern Railway
San Luis Valley Southern Railway			1928	1953	Southern San Luis Valley Railroad
Silverton Railroad			1887	1904	Silverton Railway
Silverton Railway			1904	1922	N/A
Silverton, Gladstone and Northerly Railroad			1899	1915	Silverton Northern Railroad
Silverton Northern Railroad			1895	1941	N/A
South Park and Leadville Short Line Railroad			1885	1900	N/A
Southern San Luis Valley Railroad	SSLV		1953	1996	N/A
State Line and Denver Railway		DRGW	1889	1889	Rio Grande Western Railway
Trinidad Railway	TRIN		1992			Still exists as a joint lessor of the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad
Trinidad and Denver Railroad		DRGW	1886	1888	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Trinidad and Denver Terminal and Railway Company		DRGW	1888	1899	Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Uintah Railway			1903	1939	N/A
Union Depot and Railroad Company		ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ RI/ UP	1879	1899	Union Depot and Railway Company
Union Depot and Railway Company		ATSF/ CB&Q/ DRGW/ RI/ UP	1899	1914	Denver Union Terminal Railway
Union Pacific Railway		UP	1880	1898	Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division		UP	1866	1869	Kansas Pacific Railway
Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway		CB&Q	1890	1898	Colorado and Southern Railway
Union Pacific, Lincoln and Colorado Railway		UP	1888	1898	N/A	Sold at foreclosure; no property in Colorado
Walsenburg and Western Railway		CB&Q	1907	1910	Colorado Railroad