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Yes, we are open. Many people have heard rumors that we are closed, closed until fall or that we burned down due to the Parkdale Fire. The rumors are not true. We are open for business, the fire is out and all is well, so come on down!
The Royal Gorge Scenic Railway entertaining visitors since 1958!
Ride the Little Train with the Big View of the Royal Gorge. Sit back, relax and let us do the driving as you wind your way through the heart of Royal Gorge Country. The climax of your 3-mile, 30-minute ride is the best view of the Royal Gorge available anywhere.
The Royal Gorge Scenic Railway was conceived in 1957 by a local Cañon City Entrepreneur and railroad buff. It opened early in 1958 and the original cost to ride the train was a donation by riders. 50 years later it is still the most affordable way to see the Royal Gorge and Bridge.
The train runs over old fashioned wooden trestles (as pictured to the right). The train engines are 1952 Chrysler Spit-Fire Engines.
Each engine can haul up to 6 passenger cars out to Point Alta Vista (pictured to the right) and back.
The first railroad was an animal pulling a cart on wooden rails. Since then rail travel has progressed to speeds that equal jet airliners. The Royal Gorge Scenic Railway travels at a speed between 6 to 8 mph.
Fun Train Facts
In the 1800's, railroads traveled at speeds between 15 to 25 mph, loaded cars would travel at speed around 12 mph. Imagine traveling on a railroad from New York, NY to Cañon City, CO, which is about 1890 miles. It would take 156+ hours, which translates to 6 ½ days without any stops, to reach Cañon City.
In 2005, traveling on a Maglev Train, whose top speed has registered at 430 mph, it would only take about 4 ½ hours to reach Cañon City from New York or 58 hours to travel around the world (as the crow flies).
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