- The Train Traveler

The Georgetown Loop Railroad in Georgetown, Colorado is open for the season. Just an hour west of Denver at over 8,000 ft. elevation, this scenic railroad is tucked into a steep valley in a quaint Victorian town. As of May 18, they begin offering three daily roundtrip departures to Silver Plume. The summer season officially begins May 25, with more departures and tours of the Lebanon Silver Mine, which is accessible only from the train. Tours of the mine are arranged separately through the railroad.

The colorful history of the railroad dates back to 1859 with the first discoveries of silver in the mountains west of Denver. In an effort to reach the mines, early railroads began construction, first to Golden and then up the pass, attempting to reach Leadville and its rich ore deposits. Problems arose upon reaching Georgetown in 1877. Georgetown and Silver Plume are only two miles apart by road, but the elevation gain is 638 ft., too steep a grade for the engines. The concept of looping the track over itself in a spiral fashion, plus adding a tight hairpin and a horseshoe curve lengthened the track to nearly 41.2 miles, decreasing the percent grade and making the trip possible. The Devil's Gate High Bridge was reconstructed in 1984, duplicating the original feat of the loop. Now passengers are once again able to step back in history and experience this true engineering marvel.

In 1999, the operators of the Loop re-opened a portion of the old Denver & Rio Grande Western line and named it the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. This 24 mile round-trip route travels from Canon City to Parkdale, through the spectacular scenery of the "Grand Canyon of the Arkansas." If you reserve space on both the Georgetown Loop and the Royal Gorge at the time of booking, you will receive a 10% discount on each train.

For more information on the Georgetown Loop, including departure times and a history of the area, visit www.georgetownloop.com. For reservations and information, call 1-800-691-4386 or 303-569-2403. For more on what to see and do in the area, go to www.georgetowncolorado.com.

For more information on the Royal Gorge, including schedules, routes and reservations, see www.royalgorgeroute.com or call (888) RAILS-4-U or (303) 569-2403. For more on what to see and do in the area go to www.canoncitycolorado.com.