History
Robert W. Richardson and Cornelius W. Hauck opened the Colorado Railroad Museum in 1959. It is dedicated to preserving for future generations a tangible record of Colorado’s flamboyant railroad era and particularly its pioneering narrow gauge mountain railroads. In 1964, the nonprofit Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation was formed to assume ownership and operation of the Museum.
Celebrating 50 Years in 2009 – Highlights
| Construction of Museum begins | November 2, 1958 |
| Original building opened | July 1959 |
| First steam operation 346 | July 30, 1962 |
| SLVS 106/D&RG 68 | April 1963 |
| CB&Q 5629 move | August 1963 |
| Foundation formed | February 1964 |
| Denver HO Model Railroad Club moved to the Museum | September 1968 |
| DSP&P 51/DL&G 191 | March 1973 |
| Johnny Cash at the Museum | August 1974 |
| 318 returns to service | June 1978 |
| Burning the mortgage | May 26, 1980 |
| Acquisition of the Shank collection | July 1984 |
| D&RGW 491 | June 1985 |
| Denver Garden Railway Society started at the Museum | September 1994 |
| Robert Richardson Library | April 12, 1997 |
| D&RGW diesels 5771/5762 arrive | January 27, 1998 |
| Cornelius Hauck roundhouse dedicated | July 15, 2000 |
| NRHS donation of equipment (CB&Q 96, CB&Q 5629, Navajo) |
October 2006 |
| Move 0-6-0 and rotary snow plow | January 2008 |
| Alex & Irene McKiney Loop completed | July 24, 1999 |
| Headington Water Tank dedicated | April 2008 |
| Rocky Mountain Railroad Club donation of equipment (20, Rico, Caboose) |
May 31, 2006 |
