Royal Gorge Route Railroad

The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a heritage railway and is located in Canon City, Colorado. The railroad runs through the Royal Gorge on a 2-hour scenic and historic train ride along the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

The 1950s-era train leaves the Santa Fe Depot in Canon City on a daily schedule.

This is a family-oriented outing for young and old alike. It carries 100,000+ guests each and every year!
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Top 7 Facts to Know About the Royal Gorge Route Railroad:
1)  A heritage railway is a railway that is kept to carry living history rail traffic in order to re-create railway scenes of the past. It is like stepping back in time!

2)  In the 1870s, carbonate ores rich in lead and silver brought miners to the upper Arkansas River Valley of Colorado.

3)  The mining activity was so brisk it attracted the attention of both the Rio Grande and Santa Fe railroads. After the Royal Gorge War between the two railroad companies, the route opened in 1879.

4)  The Santa Fe Depot was built in 1910; the last passenger train ran in 1967.

5)  Union Pacific RR purchased the Route in 1995; the last thru freight train ran in 1997.

6)  Royal Gorge Express purchased the Route in 1998 and began regular service in 1999.

7) Dining service was introduced on RGRR in 2003 and Vista Dome cars entered service in 2005.

Looking up at Royal Gorge Bridge from train open car.

​Royal Gorge Route History

Royal Gorge Route Wiki

Another Travel Post: Cheyenne Mountain