The Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway

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The Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway connected its namesake towns in Colorado, beginning in 1897. (right-of-way)

Image: Cathedral Park, Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"The train tracks belong to the Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway." Photochrom print by the Detroit Photographic Co. copyrighted 1901. From the Photochrom Prints Collection, Library of Congress.

It was built during Colorado Springs' second gold rush during the 1890's, but faced competition from many of the other railroads built to tap into the mines at Cripple Creek. Despite the rugged terrain it ran through, it was a standard gauge line.

The line changed hands a few times during the 1910's, before finally becoming part of the Cripple Creek Central Railway, who also controlled the nearby Midland Terminal Railway. By 1917, most traffic had been moved to the MTRwy, with 1919 being the last year of operations.

Almost all of the right of way today has been converted into Gold Camp Road.


Location: Cripple Creek, CO, USA

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