The Long Way
Lake County
A red brick building with a shingled roof stands beside a dirt area.
Plate I. Depot building, Leadville Railroad. Photograph by Larry Lamsa, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tourist train on the Leadville Railroad.
Plate II. Tourist train on the Leadville Railroad. Photograph by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tourist train, Leadville Railroad.
Plate III. Tourist train, Leadville Railroad. Photograph by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Passenger train, Leadville Railroad.
Plate IV. Passenger train, Leadville Railroad. Photograph by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Passenger train on the Leadville Railroad.
Plate V. Passenger train on the Leadville Railroad. Photograph by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Passenger train cars, Leadville Railroad.
Plate VI. Passenger train cars, Leadville Railroad. Photograph by Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Leadville Railroad

Leadville, Lake County, Colorado. Scenic Train Ride.

Details

Map. Leadville, Lake County, Colorado. Larger map
Where
326 E. 7th St. Leadville CO 80461, Leadville, CO 80461. Directions
When
2 hour round trip and 2.5 hour Round Trip options, Fall Train Rides and Summer Train Rides.
Season
Daily trips Memorial Day weekend through September. October through April weekly rides.
Getting there
From The North Take HWY 24 through town and turn left at 7th St. From The South Take HWY 24 through town and turn right at 7th St.
Fees
Coach Class Adult: $60 Coach Class Child (4-12) $40 Lounge Car $90.
Access
Parking is free for all vehicles regardless of size. For larger vehicles, RVs or busses, please use our north lot just across 8th street from the Depot.
Walk-in or reserve
Reservations required for Holiday Express; Summer Train Rides 2027 available late October 2026.
Phone
866-386-3936
Website
leadvillerailroad.com
Managed by
Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad Company, owned by Ken and Stephanie Olsen and their children.
Established
1988.

Climb aboard the Leadville Railroad for a scenic ride through the Colorado Rocky Mountains, winding through the San Isabel National Forest at high elevation.

Notable Events

  1. 1884The Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad's highline, originally a narrow-gauge railroad, was completed to Leadville. leadvillerailroad.com
  2. 1894Conductor Gary Snider says the line has been here since 1894, originally running to Denver as the Denver, South Park & Pacific. cbsnews.com
  3. 1920sBy the 1920s molybdenum replaced gold and silver; the Climax Mine opened right next to the railroad. cbsnews.com
  4. 1980The molybdenum mine shut down, leaving the tracks dormant; Burlington Northern offered to sell the Leadville-to-Climax stretch to the city. cbsnews.com
  5. 1987Ken and Stephanie Olsen approached the Burlington Northern Railroad Company about purchasing the Highline. leadvillerailroad.com
  6. 1988The Olsens turned the purchased equipment into passenger cars and opened for business on Memorial Day weekend. leadvillerailroad.com

People

  • Derek Olsen, engineer; Ken Olsen's son.
  • Gary Snider, conductor.
  • Ken Olsen, local businessman who with Stephanie Olsen bought the Highline from Burlington Northern and owns the line.
  • Stephanie Olsen, local businesswoman who with Ken Olsen bought the Highline from Burlington Northern and owns the line.
  • Kirstin Ayers, Ken Olsen's daughter.

Sources

  1. leadvillerailroad.com
  2. leadvillerailroad.com/train-rides
  3. leadvillerailroad.com/special-events-on-the-leadville-railroad
  4. leadvillerailroad.com/on-board-the-leadville-railroad
  5. leadvillerailroad.com/history
  6. leadvillerailroad.com/frequently-asked-questions
  7. leadvillerailroad.com/parking
  8. facebook.com/LeadvilleRailroad
  9. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Leadville,_Colorado_and_Southern_Railroad
  10. leadvillerailroad.com/contact
  11. instagram.com/leadvillerailroad
  12. cbsnews.com/colorado/news/rail-ride-out-of-leadville-offers-scenery-history
  13. summitdaily.com/news/leadvilles-holiday-express-train-captures-holiday-spirit-with-family-at-the-forefront