Library

Keeping Track of History: The Richardson Railroad Library

The renowned Robert W. Richardson Railroad Library at the Colorado Railroad Museum houses thousands of rare photos, artifacts and documents that illustrate the rich history of railroads in Colorado.

The Library is a reference library only and material may not be checked out.

Books and Pamphlets

The Library collection consists of about 10,000 books and pamphlets related to railroads nationwide. Collections include general histories, photo histories, atlases, corporate histories, biographies and reference books. Organized by subject, the collections include locomotives, electric railways, passenger trains, individual railroads, technical engineering books, catalogs, government documents and ICC and state commission papers.

Periodicals and Serials

The Library has over 400 periodicals and serials, such as Trains, Railroad, NRHS Bulletin, Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletins. Trade publications on hand are Railway Age, Traffic World and Modern Railroads.

Photographs, Slides and Movies

Extensive collections of black and white photographs going back to the earliest days of railroads in Colorado are also archived. Photographs are arranged by individual railroad names. Computer scans or photographic copies are available but you must make your photograph selection in person. Slides and movies in the collection are not currently accessible. Consult the Library staff for pricing.

Donations

Donations of books, artifacts and railroad paperwork are always welcome. The librarian can discuss the needs of the Library with you. Donations are appreciated. They have made the Library what it is today. You can now make financial contributions to the Library Online.

Assisting in Railroad-related Research

The volunteers and staff of the Library dedicate themselves to responding to on-going inquiries related to steam engines, structures, history and people. Daily letters, emails and phone calls are received from historians, modelers, surveyors, attorneys and genealogists–to name a few–all looking for pieces and parts of Colorado railroad history.

Keeping track of time is a full-time job at the Library . . . with lifetime benefits to future generations.

Conservation of Colorado’s Railroad History

Countless hours are spent professionally filing and archiving the thousands of paper items, books, pamphlets and photographs that make up the Library collection.

It is important to take care of the collections so that they are useable for future historians. Conservation of the collection is an ongoing process with countless volumes being microfilmed as time and funding become available. The staff and patrons use the microfilm for making copies of data, while keeping the original books safe and sound.

To help with preservation, the Library has a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system to keep the temperature and humidity at a constant level.

Library Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For appointments,
303-279-4591

Ask the Railroad Librarians
by email Library@crrm.org

Recent Collections

The Library has received a donation of the John Horan Photo Collection. A collection consisting of three file drawers of negatives and prints, all of which will take nearly a year to appropriately catalog.

Other photo collections have taken much longer, such as the Jack Thode Collection. Jack’s glass plates have been cataloged but the negatives and prints are still in process.

The staff is continuing its work on a larger archival project . . . the David Myrick Collection. In total, 24 boxes of data, photos and maps encompass the collection with nearly seven pallet loads of material yet to be worked.