History

The Roaring Fork Valley

Seven railroads operated in the Roaring Fork Valley, which extends from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. They contributed to the economy and vitality of the valley and enabled it to grow. The Denver and Rio Grande and Colorado Midland arriving in the valley in late 1887 and early 1888 made up the backbone. The northern 15 miles of the D&RG rail road remained in operation until 1990. The Glenwood Heritage Trains brings back to life the northern two miles of this rail road. You will be riding the same route pioneered 128 years ago. Climb aboard and learn more from our historical narrative.

If you want to learn more about railroading in the Roaring Fork Valley, check out our collection of books, maps, posters and photos in the gift shop.

For a fun and informative stop, take the time to visit the Glenwood Railroad Museum (click on Directions).

Aspen Branch of Denver Rio Grande Rail Road

The D&RG came from Leadville via Tennessee Pass and Glenwood Canyon to Glenwood Spring then extended the length of the Roaring Fork Valley to Aspen. The railroad was created to service the silver boom in Aspen. The D&RG was the first railroad servicing the valley. The first official train arrived in Aspen on November 1st of 1879 with great celebration. It helped build and well served the Roaring Fork Valley:

• transported miners, families and visitors to valley towns, including Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale,

Glenwood Springs, Redstone, Coal Basin and Marble
• helped build these very towns by bringing in building materials, passengers, supplies
• transported important personages, such as President Theodore Roosevelt
• hauled millions of tons of coal, used in the production of steel throughout the United States
• carried tons of silver ore for use in minting U. S. coins
• provided employment and income for valley families
• hauled out tons of strawberries, potatoes and other agricultural products
• carried marble blocks used in Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, the Lincoln Memorial the Colorado State

Capitol, Colorado State Museum, and hundreds of other statues and buildings.

• Hauled out iron ore mined from Snowmass Mountain from Woody Creek until 1986

• Remained in operation until 1990 hauling coal from Carbondale load-out.

The D&RG was merged into the Southern Pacific in 1988. They in turn merged into the Union Pacific Rail Road in 1995. In 1990 the section from Woody Creek to Glenwood Springs was purchase by the Roaring Fork Transportation Holding Authority from the Southern Pacific to preserve it for open space and future transportation uses. In 1994 the holding authority sold this section to the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) for the same purpose. RFTA is the largest urban bus system in the country providing service from Aspen to Glenwood Springs to Rifle. In 2006 GHT obtained a lease from RFTA for use of the right of way within Glenwood Springs for its Heritage Train.

Colorado Midland Rail Road

The Colorado Midland came from Leadville over the mountains though the Hagerman Tunnel, which it built, and down the Frying Pan river to enter the Roaring Fork Valley at Basalt then proceeded South to Aspen. The Colorado Midland arrived in Aspen on February 4th of 1888. three months after the D&RG. It eventually forged a route north from Basalt to Glenwood Springs, extending the length of the Roaring Fork Valley. The Colorado Midland was viable until 1918 when it ran into trouble because of lack of traffic. In1893 silver was demonetized and silver prices dropped causing mines to close and people and businesses to abandon the Roaring Fork Valley. The Colorado Midland went into bankruptcy and the right of way eventually ended up in the hands of the Colorado Department of Transportation. State Highway 82 is built on their former right of way.

GHT