Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad

There’s a train in Colorado that runs on tracks so close together you could almost straddle them like a toddler on a balance beam. It’s the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, and it’s basically a time machine with a whistle. The gauge is two feet wide, which is narrower than the original narrow gauge railroads that once crawled all over the Rockies.

That’s right: this train is so narrow it makes a regular narrow gauge look like a bloated SUV. It’s like someone took a train and put it on a diet of lettuce and disappointment. But don’t let the size fool you—this little engine has a big personality.

Where the Heck Is Cripple Creek?

Cripple Creek sits at about 9,494 feet above sea level in Colorado. That’s high enough to make a sea-level tourist gasp like a goldfish. The town was the site of Colorado’s last great gold rush in the 1890s.

Thousands of people poured in, hoping to strike it rich. Most found rocks, debt, and a new appreciation for indoor plumbing.

The current railroad was started in 1967 by a guy named Dr. John M. Leeds. He wanted to save some steam locomotives from the scrap heap. So he laid two-foot gauge track on part of the old Midland Terminal grade.

The result is a heritage railroad that’s narrower than the original narrow gauge lines. It’s like a remix that’s more extreme than the original.

The Ride: 45 Minutes of Chug, Puff, and “Are We There Yet?”

You board at the Cripple Creek depot, which looks like a set from a Western movie. The cars are open-air, which is fancy talk for “bench on wheels.” The locomotive is a small steam engine, often imported from Germany or Mexico.

It puffs, chugs, and whistles like it’s got something to prove.

The trip is a 45-minute round trip that covers about four miles. You climb through the historic mining district, past aspen groves, pine trees, and old mine dumps. You might see deer, elk, or a chipmunk with an attitude.

Cripple Creek Victor Narrow Gauge Train Photograph by Steven Krull

The train goes to a spot called Anaconda, a ghost town that’s mostly a memory and a few rocks. It does not actually reach Victor. So the name is a bit of a tease.

Wait, It Doesn’t Go to Victor?

Correct. The “Victor” part is more of a historical nod than a promise. The line originally served the mining district between Cripple Creek and Victor.

Today’s excursion turns around before it gets there. So if you’re planning to hop off in Victor for lunch, you’ll be eating your sandwich on the train. But the views are better anyway.

The Locomotive Is a Caffeinated Teakettle

These little engines burn coal or oil, and they work hard. At 9,400 feet, the air is thin, so the engine is like a marathon runner who forgot to train. But it makes it.

The top speed is maybe 10 mph. You could jog faster, but you’d miss the cinders. The whistle is loud enough to wake a gold miner from 1895.

Why It’s Worth Your Time (and Maybe Your Lunch)

But seriously, it’s charming. The staff are friendly. The views are great.

Cripple Creek And Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad: Visitor Guide

And you can’t beat the sound of a steam whistle echoing off the mountains. It’s also a family-friendly attraction, so bring the kids. Just don’t bring your dog, unless your dog is a service animal or a very small, well-behaved rock.

Practical Stuff (Because You’ll Need a Jacket)

The train runs from May to October, weather permitting. It’s in Cripple Creek, which is southwest of Colorado Springs. Tickets are around $15–$20 for adults, less for kids.

You should bring a jacket, because even in summer, the mountains are chilly. You should also bring sunglasses, because the sun is bright. And maybe a camera, because you’ll want to prove you saw a train smaller than your driveway.

Final Whistle

The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad is a delightful anachronism. It’s a tiny train in a big landscape. It’s a slow ride in a fast world.

It’s a chance to step back in time, or at least to step onto a bench on wheels and smell some coal smoke.

If you’re in Colorado, give it a go. Just don’t expect to arrive in Victor. Expect to arrive back where you started, slightly happier and definitely sootier.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll get a piece of cinder in your eye. That’s how you know it was real.