Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Cripple Creek, Colorado · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrains run daily from mid-May to mid-October

The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad has run steam trains on 2-foot gauge track out of Cripple Creek since 1967, using a revived stretch of the old Midland Terminal and Florence & Cripple Creek grades through Colorado's gold mining district.

  • Carrying passengers since 1967
  • 2-foot narrow gauge track
  • Restored steam locomotives
  • Station built in 1894
  • Runs mid-May to mid-October

Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad at a glance

Hours
Trains depart daily from mid-May to mid-October; check the railroad's website for the current schedule
Admission
Ticket prices are not posted clearly online; check the railroad's website or Facebook page
Train rides
Narrow gauge steam train rides, daily mid-May to mid-October
Best for
Families with young kids and steam fans

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Cripple Creek.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Little steam trains on the old Gold Camp grades

The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad began carrying passengers in 1967. Its trains run on 2-foot gauge track laid over a revived section of two railroads that once served the Cripple Creek mining district, the Midland Terminal Railway and the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad, and the ride heads south from town toward the city's outskirts.

The station itself has traveled almost as far as the trains. It was built in 1894 as the Anaconda station on the Midland Terminal line, moved to Bull Hill after a 1904 fire burned most of Anaconda, and came to its present spot in 1968. When no old water tower could be found, the railroad says John had a wooden one built by Denver Tank and Reel and set up beside the line. The result is a small, hand-assembled railroad that the City of Cripple Creek calls one of the Gold Camp's favorite family attractions.

From the 1894 station to the Midland Terminal Wye

Your visit starts at the old Anaconda station, which now holds the ticket office and gift shop and sits next to the original Cripple Creek Midland Depot. From there a small steam locomotive, described by the regional visitor bureau as a 15-ton engine, pulls the train south out of Cripple Creek, through rolling hills and past old mine shafts and aspen ridges, and out past the Midland Terminal Wye before heading back to town.

The railroad does not post a detailed equipment roster or ride length online, so ask at the ticket window what is running that day.

Don’t miss

  1. The old Anaconda stationBuilt in 1894, moved twice, and now the railroad's ticket office and gift shop.
  2. The wooden water towerBuilt new by Denver Tank and Reel because no original tower could be found, it gives the station the look of a working steam stop.
  3. The Midland Terminal WyeThe train passes this old junction on its trip south before returning to Cripple Creek.

A short steam ride sized for small passengers

The railroad pitches itself to kids and the whole family, and the small engine, the whistle and the mine shafts outside the windows give children plenty to point at. The gift shop carries Thomas the Tank Engine items alongside books and t-shirts, which can make the stop before boarding a highlight for little fans. The railroad does not post stroller or step details online, so ask when you buy tickets.

Plan your visit: tips for Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad

  • Plan your visit between mid-May and mid-October, when trains run.
  • Allow a few minutes for the gift shop in the old station before you board.
  • The gift shop can ship purchases anywhere in the United States.
  • Confirm departure times before you drive up, since the schedule is seasonal.

The people behind the depot and the water tower

The railroad presents itself as a hands-on operation: it rescued its station from the Midland Terminal line and had a water tower built when none could be found. The simplest ways to support it are to ride, shop in the gift shop (which ships orders), and follow the railroad on Facebook.

More rail rides around Pikes Peak

The Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway is about 15 miles away as the crow flies, and the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Cañon City is about 22 miles. Pair either with the Pueblo Railway Museum, about 45 miles off, for a full rail weekend, or browse every train museum in Colorado.

Every train museum in Colorado

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

This gift shop sells Thomas the Tank Engine toys, and I can just see a kid trying to cram one into a bag already full of snacks. In our book, Rally packs his own little suitcase: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. Packing the favorite things is half the fun of a train day. If your little one wants to color Rally's suitcase, there are free coloring pages waiting.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad: 20 questions riders ask

What is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

It is a heritage railroad that runs seasonal steam trains on 2-foot narrow gauge track out of Cripple Creek, Colorado. The trains use a revived section of the old Midland Terminal Railway and Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad grades, giving riders a short trip into the gold mining country of the Cripple Creek and Victor district.

Is it called the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad or Railway?

Its name is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, sometimes shortened to CC&VNG RR. People often search for it as a railway, but both words point to the same steam train ride that leaves from the old station in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The railroad's website is cripplecreekrailroad.com.

How do I buy Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad tickets?

Tickets are sold at the ticket office inside the old Anaconda station in Cripple Creek, which also holds the gift shop. The railroad does not post current prices clearly online, so check cripplecreekrailroad.com, message its Facebook page, or email ccvngrr@aol.com before your trip to confirm fares and payment options.

What is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad schedule?

Trains leave the depot daily from mid-May through mid-October, according to the City of Cripple Creek. Exact departure times are not posted in detail online, so check the railroad's website or Facebook page before you drive up. Outside that season the trains do not run, so plan a summer or early fall visit.

When did the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad open?

The railroad started carrying passengers in 1967. A year later, in 1968, its station building was moved to its present location in Cripple Creek after a long life on the Midland Terminal line. The railroad has been a seasonal family attraction in the Gold Camp ever since.

Who owns the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

The railroad does not publish ownership details on its website. Its own history mentions a man named John, who had the wooden water tower built by Denver Tank and Reel when no original tower could be found. For questions about the railroad's ownership or history, email ccvngrr@aol.com or message its Facebook page.

Where does the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad go?

The train heads south out of Cripple Creek toward the city's outskirts, passing old mine shafts, rolling hills and aspen ridges, and runs past the Midland Terminal Wye before returning to town. It is a round trip from the depot, so you get off where you got on, next to the gift shop and ticket office.

Is there a map of the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad route?

The railroad does not post a detailed route map online. The trip leaves the station in Cripple Creek, runs south on the old Midland Terminal and Florence and Cripple Creek grades past the Midland Terminal Wye, and comes back. For a map or directions, ask at the ticket office or check the railroad's Facebook page.

What kind of train is it?

It is a narrow gauge steam train running on 2-foot track, pulled by one of the railroad's restored steam locomotives. The Pikes Peak regional visitor bureau describes the engine as a 15-ton iron horse. The railroad does not post a full roster online, so ask the crew which locomotive is pulling your train that day.

Is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad dog friendly?

The railroad does not post a pet policy online. Before bringing a dog, email ccvngrr@aol.com or message the railroad's Facebook page to ask whether pets may ride or wait at the station. Service animals are usually handled separately, so mention it if your dog is one when you ask.

What is the weather like for the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

Trains run outdoors in the mountains from mid-May to mid-October, so conditions can change quickly in Cripple Creek. Check the local forecast the morning of your ride and bring layers, especially for early season or October trips. The railroad does not post a weather cancellation policy online, so call or message ahead if storms are expected.

Are there Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad reviews or photos I can see?

The railroad's own website includes pictures of gift shop items, and its Facebook page is the best place to see current photos and comments from riders. Regional sites such as Visit Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak visitor bureau also feature the ride. City of Cripple Creek materials call it one of the Gold Camp's favorite family attractions.

Is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad good for kids?

Yes, it is aimed squarely at families. The small steam engine, the whistle and the views of old mine shafts keep kids interested, and the ride is short and returns to where it started. The gift shop also sells Thomas the Tank Engine items. Ask about steps and stroller storage when you buy tickets.

What is in the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad gift shop?

The gift shop in the old station carries t-shirts, books, logo items and Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, among other things. It can ship orders anywhere in the United States and accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. If you see something on the website you want, the railroad asks you to get in touch.

What is the history of the Cripple Creek railroad station?

The station was built in 1894 as the Anaconda station on the Midland Terminal line. After a fire in 1904 destroyed most of Anaconda, it was moved to Bull Hill, and in 1968 it was moved again to its present location in Cripple Creek. Today it holds the ticket office and gift shop next to the original Cripple Creek Midland Depot.

Is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad wheelchair accessible?

The railroad does not post accessibility information online. Narrow gauge trains and historic stations can have steps, so email ccvngrr@aol.com or message the railroad's Facebook page before your visit to ask about boarding, seating and access to the gift shop. That way you know what to expect before you drive up.

Where is the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

The railroad leaves from its station in Cripple Creek, Colorado, beside the original Cripple Creek Midland Depot. A street address is not posted on its website, so check cripplecreekrailroad.com or the railroad's Facebook page for directions, or ask in town. Cripple Creek is southwest of Colorado Springs in the Pikes Peak region.

Does the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad run a Christmas train?

No holiday or Christmas train is listed online. Trains are described as running daily from mid-May to mid-October, so winter rides are not part of the posted season. If you are hoping for a special event, check the railroad's Facebook page for announcements or email ccvngrr@aol.com to ask.

Can groups book the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

The railroad does not post a group or school booking program online. If you are planning a family reunion, school trip or tour group visit, email ccvngrr@aol.com or message the railroad's Facebook page ahead of time to ask about group seating, pricing and the best departure for a larger party.

What other train rides are near the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad?

The Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Manitou Springs is about 15 miles away, and the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Canon City is about 22 miles. The Pueblo Railway Museum is about 45 miles off, so the Cripple Creek ride fits easily into a longer rail trip around the Pikes Peak region.

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Kelsey Cecil
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