Hi train buddies! Attached is one of this months submissions to the Garden Railroad newsletter that I hope you will find of interest (text and photo file).....Bill

RAILROAD POSTCARDS OF THE PAST

CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO

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Narrow Gauge Steam Engine No.2 of the Cripple Creek and Victor

Railroad travels through miles of history-packed Cripple Creek

region...A memorable family experience.

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The Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad is a seasonal

tourist railroad attraction operating on 2 miles of track between

Cripple Creek, Colorado and the outskirts of town. The 2 ft. gauge

railroad follows a portion of the original standard gauge roadbed of

the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad, one of three railroads that

began serving this rich mining region in the late 1800’s. Three coal

fired narrow gauge steam locomotives are owned by the CC&VNG

for tourist operations including a 1902 0-4-4-0 Orenstein & Koppel

articulated mallet, a 0-4-0 Henschel built in 1936, and a 1927 0-4-0

Porter tank engine. The crew also operates a small 1952 battery

operated General Electric locomotive for track maintenance and

home made open and closed passenger coaches round out the

railroads rolling stock. The route of the CC&VNG RR travels from

town through the scenic Cripple Creek historical mining district and

over a reconstructed trestle to the abandoned Anaconda mining

camp, and return. Once the home of nearly 50,000 persons, Cripple

Creek was a thriving gold camp and at one time was served daily by

58 passenger trains from Colorado Springs and Denver. Two efficient

local electric interurban trolley systems also operated in the rail rich

district. The 3 ft. narrow gauge Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad

arrived in Cripple Creek in 1894 with 3 daily trains in each direction

traversing a climb of bout 5000 feet over the 40 miles from Florence.

The second railroad to serve the Cripple Creek Mining District was

the standard gauge Midland Terminal in 1895 and the Colorado

Springs and Cripple Creek District Railroad, also known as “The

Short Line” began service in 1901 with 2 daily passenger trains. The

45 mile long Short Line was the most direct and scenic route to

Cripple Creek from Colorado Springs and surviving until 1920 as a

popular tourist attraction. The three railroads and two trolley lines no

longer exist, however the rebirth of Cripple Creek as a tourist and

gambling destination continue to draw crowds, many who enjoy a

glimpse of the past on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge

Railroad.

From the postcard collection of Bill Ralph