Colorado Railroad Museum’s “Colorado Crossings” – Steam Locomotives & Railroad Fun May 16 & 17

All aboard! The Colorado Railroad Museum is bringing back Denver Metro’s largest and most colorful festival of operating trains on Saturday & Sunday, May 16 & 17, 2026. “Colorado Crossings” features two coal-fired narrow-gauge locomotives under steam plus three “Galloping Geese” in operation. These beloved self-propelled rail cars once carried mail over Lizard Head Pass in southwest Colorado. Activities and train rides will take place daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year’s event event is themed around a “reunion” of locomotives that once ran on Colorado’s Florence & Cripple Creek (F&CC) railroad.

Both days, the Museum’s beloved Rio Grande Southern (RGS) steam locomotive No. 20 will take center stage.

Co-starring as an honored guest will be Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) steam locomotive No. 315, currently on loan from the Durango Railroad Historical Society.

Both locomotives, originally constructed for the F&CC in the 1890s, will be in operation this weekend. Joining them in operation will be the Museum’s own D&RGW locomotive No. 491, currently the largest coal-burning narrow gauge steam locomotive operating in North America.

Also on display during Colorado Crossings will be D&RGW steam locomotive No. 318, from the Museum’s collection (also an F&CC alumni), along with freshly refurbished F&CC boxcar No. 588.

Each day will feature live presentations (by historian George Neiderauer) detailing the history of former F&CC locomotives Nos. 20, 315, and 318 and offering guests the opportunity to learn more. Video histories of Nos. 20 and 318 will air throughout the day on the Museum Pavilion’s large-screen video wall.

Kicking off each morning at 9:30 a.m. will be a Parade of Geese and Steam, with Rio Grande Southern (RGS) Galloping Geese Nos. 2, 6, and 7 all participating along with RGS No. 20, D&RGW No. 491, and visiting locomotive D&RGW No. 315.

Plus, cab tours of D&RGW steam locomotive No. 491 will be offered, along with turntable demonstrations.

A Big Boy of a Used Book Sale, with hundreds of used railroad books available at bargain-basement prices, will be ongoing 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both event days.

After regular Train Rides conclude each day, an additional photographer’s train will operate, providing unique opportunities to capture stunning shots of the locomotive, consist, and surrounding mesas of the North and South Table Mountains.

Food, beverages and treats will be available for purchase both days. Come join the fun!

Event Admission

New this year for Steam-Up Event weekends (including Colorado Crossings), online pre-reserved tickets include BOTH admission and a train ride.

Order Online in Advance and save $5 per ticket!

Online Admission & Ride Pricing: $17 adults, $7 ages 2-17, $15 seniors ages 60+. Free for members and visitors under age 2. 

On-Site Admission & Ride for Steam Up Event Days: $22 Adults, $12 ages 2-17, $20 Seniors ages 60+.

Tickets are on sale now. You can find them here.

Want More Fun Things To Do?

Look at our full events calendar, where you can type in any date, or check out what’s happening over the next few days right here: