G.E. Nordell's
Colorado Railroads Page
Page Two
Colorado Railroad Barons
roadbuilder & railroad baron Otto Mears [1840-1931]
built the Silverton Railroad [1887-1926], the Rio Grande Southern Railroad [1889-1951], and the Silverton Northern Railroad [1895-1939]
banker & railroad tycoon David H. Moffat [1839-1911] Page
at Spirit of America Bookstore
Gen. Wm. Jackson Palmer [1836-1909]
built the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad in 1870
also founded Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1886
Books About Colorado Railroads
browse books about Colorado Railroads at Amazon
 | "The Young Engineers In Colorado: or, At Railroad Building In Earnest" [Altemus/Saalfield 1912] by H. Irving Hancock [1866?-1922] Kindle Edition from Amazon Digital Services [1/2012] for FREE {sic} CreateSpace 9x6 pb [8/2013] for $6.64 Dodo Press 9x6 pb [3/2007] for $9.89 Bibliographical Center for Research 9¾x7 hardcover [12/2009] for $29.69 Saalfield Publng hardcover [1912 original] out of print/used Altemus 7½x5 hardcover [1912 original] out of print/used |
 | "Mystery Rides The Rails" [novel? 1937] by Gilbert A. Lathrop Goldsmith Publng hardcover [1937] out of print/used Goldsmith Publng hardcover [1937] out of print/used Goldsmith Publng hardcover [1937] out of print/used |
 | "Little Engines and Big Men" [1954] by Gilbert A. Lathrop
Tales of the building, consolidation, and abandonment of the Denver, South Park & Pacific RR, the Florence & Cripple Creek RR, the standard gauge Colorado Midland RR, and the narrow gauge Denver & Rio Grande RR, which became the standard gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western RR Caxton Printers hardcover [1954] out of print/used |
 | "Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History, Volume 2: The Mountain States - Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming" [1971] by Donald B. Robertson
Taylor Publng 11¾x9 hardcover [1971] out of print/used |
 | "Rio Grande Glory Days" [1976] by Gilbert A. Lathrop
Combination of autobiography and author's stories previously published in Railroad Magazine; author's father was a locomotive driver based in Cimarron, Colorado, and third-generation railroader Gilbert became a roundhouse boy, fireman, brakeman & conducter on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and was also an engine foreman on the Western Pacific RR during World War II. Golden West Books hardcover [1976] out of print/many used |
 | "The Mineral Belt: An Illustrated History" in 3 volumes [1977-82] by David S. Digerness
"Volume 1: Old South Park - Denver To Leadville" [1977] Sundance Books 11x8¼ hardcover [1977] out of print/many used Sundance Books 9x6½ hardcover [1981] out of print/used "Volume 2: Old South Park - Across The Great Divide" [1978] Sundance Books 9x6½ hardcover [1978] out of print/used "Volume 3: Georgetown, Mining, Colorado Central Railroad" [1982] Sundance Books 11x8¾ hardcover [1982] out of print/scarce 3-Volume Set [1977-82] Sundance Books hardcover set [1977-82] out of print/scarce |
 | "Goin' Railroading: Two Generations of Colorado Stories" [1985] Memoir-history of railroading in Colorado co-written by Samuel F. Speas and his daughter mystery author Margaret Coel; Speas was an engineman on the Colorado & Southern Railway; hardcover subtitle "A Century On The Colorado High Iron" Univ Press of Colorado 9x6 pb [11/98] for $21.95 Pruett Publng 9x6 pb [10/91] out of print/used Pruett Publng 9x9¾ hardcover [1985] out of print/used |
 | "Colorado's Joint Line: Denver To Pueblo: A Guide To Facilities and Operations" [1987] by Donald K. Park AT&SF and D&RGW owned parallel tracks from Denver to Pueblo in Colorado; the wartime United States Railway Administration decided in 1918 that it was more efficient to run the two routes as dedicated northbound and southbound lines. The deal continued after the war as the Joint Line, with Colorado & Southern on a lease. C&S and AT&SF were absorbed by B.N.S.F., D&RGW was absorbed by Union Pacific, and the deal continues after almost 100 years. self-publd 28-page pb pamphlet [1987] out of print/scarce |
 | "Colorado Railroad Structures: From The Heart of Narrow-Gauge Country" [1987 & 1988] by Russ Collman & Klaas Gunnink Volume 1: Great Divide Press pb [1987] out of print/scarce Volume 2: Great Divide Press pb [1988] out of print/scarce Volume 2 again: Great Divide Press pb [1988] out of print/scarce |
 | "Chasing the Narrow Gauge, Volume 1" [2002] by Robert W. Richardson First of Richardson's trilogy, covering his life and the founding of the Narrow Gauge Museum [1948-1958] in Alamosa, Colorado which became the Colorado Railroad Museum [est. 1959] in Golden, Colorado Heimburger House Publng 9x12 hardcover [2002] for $53.15 |
 | "Railroads of Colorado: Your Guide To Colorado's Historic Trains and Railway Sites" [2004] by Claude Wiatrowski Voyageur Press 11¼x9 hardcover [6/2004] out of print/used |
 | "Chasing the Narrow Gauge, Volume 2: Rio Grande (D&RGW)" [2005] by Robert W. Richardson Takes a close look at D&RGW's Silverton-Durango, Farmington, Third Division, and Valley Line branches Heimburger House Publng 12¼x9¼ hardcover [5/2005] for $53.15 |
 | "Rails Around Denver (Images of Rail)" [2007] by Allan C. Lewis Arcadia Publng 9x6½ pb [7/2007] for $19.79 |
 | "Tourist Trains Guidebook (U.S.A. & Canada)" [2007, rev 2017] by The Editors of Trains Magazine Describes 500 of the most popular train attractions, museums, and railroad vacation destinations in the U.S. and Canada, with over 200 of the most popular sites detailed in full-page reviews Kalmbach Publng 6th edition 8¼x5½ pb [5/2017] for $15.63 Kalmbach Publng 5th edition 8¼x5½ pb [5/2015] for $15.63 Kalmbach Publng 4th edition 8½x5½ pb [4/2013] for $11.20 |
 | "Chasing the Narrow Gauge, Volume 3: Rio Grande Southern" [2011] by Robert W. Richardson Heimburger House Publng 9x11½ hardcover [6/2011] for $56.00 |
 | "Riding Denver's Rails: A Mile-High Streetcar History" [2013] by Kevin Pharris, Foreword by Kenton Forrest Kindle Edition from The History Press [3/2013] for $9.99 The History Press 8¾x6 pb [3/2013] for $16.75 |
 | "The Joint Line: 1880-1995" [2013] by Robert D. Walz
AT&SF and D&RGW owned parallel tracks from Denver to Pueblo in Colorado; the wartime United States Railway Administration decided in 1918 that it was more efficient to run the two routes as dedicated northbound and southbound lines. The deal continued after the war as the Joint Line, with Colorado & Southern on a lease. C&S and AT&SF were absorbed by B.N.S.F., D&RGW was absorbed by Union Pacific, and the deal continues after almost 100 years. entry not found on Amazon for ISBN 978-1-933587-29-5 (2015) |
"Tracking Ghost Railroads In Colorado: A Five Part Guide To Abandoned and Scenic Lines" [Nov 1980]
by Robert Ormes /0937080012/
"Rio Grande: Mainline of The Rockies" [1962] by Lucius Beebe [1902 -66] & Charles Clegg /B0007F0CII/
"The Narrow Gauge Railroads of Colorado" [1946] by Lucius Beebe [1902 -66] /B0007EAZ0O/
Rails Around Durango (CO) (Images of Rail) by Allan C. Lewis (Aug 14, 2006)
http://www.amazon.com/Rails-Around-Durango-Images-Rail/dp/0738548596/
Pike's Peak Region, Railroads of 1870-1900 (CO) (Images of Rail) by Allan C. Lewis (Jul 26, 2004)
http://www.amazon.com/Pikes-Region-Railroads-1870-1900-Images/dp/073852882X/
http://www.amazon.com/Railroads-Pikes-Peak-Region-1900-1930/dp/0738531251/
Railroads of the Pike's Peak Region: 1900-1930 (CO) (Images of Rail) by Allan C. Lewis (May 29, 2006)
http://www.amazon.com/Railroads-Pikes-Peak-Region-1900-1930/dp/0738531251/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Southern-Railway-Narrow-Images/dp/073852929X/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorados-Modern-Narrow-Gauge-Circle/dp/096041228X/
http://www.amazon.com/CZ-California-Karl-R-Zimmermann/dp/B0010QH1FK/
http://www.amazon.com/Georgetown-Quick-History-Including-Loop/dp/1928656013/
http://www.amazon.com/Grande-Narrow-Gauge-John-Norwood/dp/0911581006/
http://www.amazon.com/Grande-narrow-gauge-summer-1941/dp/0912113286/
http://www.amazon.com/Motive-Colorado-Southern-Narrow-Pictorial/dp/B000NPCT5Q/
http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Silver-Lady-Called-California/dp/0871085097/
http://www.amazon.com/Railroads-Northern-Colorado-Kenneth-Christian/dp/0871085992/
"Narrow Gauge Pictorial" book series [1981-2001]
The 12-volume "Narrow Gauge Pictorial" book series covered locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, and work equipment of
the R.G.S., D&RGW, Colorado & Southern, and other narrow-gauge railroads of the Colorado Rockies.
The Grandt family website sells new copies of these books.
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume I: Rio Grande Southern and D&RGW Motive Power" [1981] Edited by Robert L. Grandt
R/ROBB Limited 5¾x8½ pb [1986] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 5¾x8½ pb [1984] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 5¾x8½ pb [1981] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume II: Passenger Cars of The D&RGW" [1982] Edited by Robert L. Grandt R/ROBB Limited 5¾x8½ pb [1982] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 5¾x8½ pb [1982] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume III: Gondolas, Boxcars, and Flatcars of The D&RGW" [1986] Edited by Robert L. Grandt
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1986] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1991] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume IV: Refrigerator Cars, Stock Cars, and Tank Cars of The D&RGW" [1988] Edited by Robert L. Grandt
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1988] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1988] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume V: Cabooses of The D&RGW" [1987] Edited by Robert L. Grandt R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1987] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume VI: Motive Power of The Colorado & Southern" [1986] Text by George L. Coleman
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1989] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1986] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume VII: Denver & Rio Grande Western Work Equipment" [1989] Text by Jerry B. Day
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1989] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume VIII: Colorado & Southern Freight and Passenger Cars" [1985] Text by Darrell Poole & Kenneth G. Martin
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1991] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1985] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume IX: Rio Grande Southern Right-of-Way and Structures - Rico to Durango" [1992] Text by Darrell Poole & Kenneth G. Martin
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1992] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume X: Numbered Work Cars of The D&RGW" [1993] Edited by Robert L. Grandt
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1993] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume XI: Locomotives of The D&RGW" [1997] Edited by Robert L. Grandt
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1997] out of print/used R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [1997] out of print/used |
 | "Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume XII: The Final Years, Alamosa to Chama" [2001] by Joseph P. Hereford, Jr. & Ernest W. Robart
R/ROBB Limited 8½x11 pb [2001] out of print/used |
Other Media About Colorado Railroads
Colorado Railroad Journal [c. 2008-2010] {website www.crrjournal.com is abandoned}
1996 document "Tracking Down Boulder, Colorado's Railroads" by Sylvia Pettem {on the City website}
http://www.amazon.com/Animas-Durango-Silverton-Narrow-Railroad/dp/B003HYURDQ/
http://www.amazon.com/Cab-Ride-Over-Veta-Pass/dp/B004C8R5TA/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Covered-Railroads-James-Jones/dp/B003XS2018/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Covered-2-Railroads-Central/dp/B003XS9BN8/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Covered-3-Railroads-South/dp/B003XS9BNI/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Narrow-Gauge-Railroad-Finley-Holiday/dp/B000EOXTWS/
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Steam-None/dp/B0039K5QPW/
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Silverton-Sunday-River-Productions/dp/B0060T29UE/
http://www.amazon.com/Denver-Rio-Grande-Western-Freights/dp/B004D9EJD8/
http://www.amazon.com/Durango-Silverton-Narrow-Gauge-Railroad/dp/B0000CGDQN/
http://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Scenic-Railroads-Silverton/dp/B003FSTV72/
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Mainlines-Grande-Railroad/dp/B0030LYCA0/
http://www.amazon.com/Rotary-Rio-Grande-Narrow-Gauge/dp/B002L6HAV8/
http://www.amazon.com/Steam-over-La-Veta-Pass/dp/B004NKJT78/
http://www.amazon.com/Through-History-Durango-Silverton-Railroad/dp/B001887YYS/
http://www.amazon.com/Train-Alamosa-Sunday-River-Productions/dp/B006133Y8K/
http://www.traintapes.com/dvd/k36.html K-36 Over Cumbres Pass
http://www.traintapes.com/dvd/lavw.html Steam Over La Veta Pass
http://www.traintapes.com/dvd/ra07w.html The Silverton Train - A Colorado Rail Adventure
http://www.traintapes.com/dvd/eutg.html Eureka & The Goose
 | Trains Magazine Special Issue: Colorado Railroads [2016]
100-page single issue magazine at Amazon [7/2016] for $9.94 + s/h order at magazine website {print or digital} |
 | "Colorado's Scenic Train Rides" [indep 2003]
90-minute color film directed by Les Jarrett; the fourteen train rides available to the public are: Amtrak's California Zephyr and Southwest Chief," Canon City & Royal Gorge, Colorado Railroad Museum, Cripple Creek & Victor, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Denver & Rio Grande, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Ft. Collins Municipal Railway, Georgetown Loop Railroad, Leadville Colorado & Southern, Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railroad, Platte River Trolley, and RTD Light Rail; 90 minutes of color footage with narration, some music, and lots of natural train sounds Railway Prodns color DVD [3/2003] for $24.95 |
 | "Denver Union Station: Portal To Progress" [indep 2010] 37-minute documentary film by Jim Havey Havey Prodns color DVD [4/2010] for $19.28 not listed at IMDb • official movie site watch 12/2009 official trailer [6:01] at Vimeo |
 | "High Country Rails" [Colorado P.B.S. 2010]
Topics Ent. color DVD [5/2010] for $14.99 produced by Colorado's Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network; DVD says 'Emmy winning', but no record found on IMDb or Wikipedia or the Emmy website to confirm; 55-minute documentary program featuring: winter scenery on the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad; the Georgetown Loop Railroad; the Cripple Creek Railroad; the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway; the now-defunct Ski Train from downtown Denver up to the base of the Winter Park Ski Resort; and Galloping Goose #5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic BETTER DEAL?: "Colorado Steam" [2010] described as four half-hour films, said to include "High Country Rails" {shortened?}, "Trains", "Railways", and Emmy-winning "Steam Trains" Topics Ent. color DVD set [4/2010] 4 disks for $12.48 |
 | "Trains Magazine Colorado Railroads" DVD [2016] 'Steam trains and diesel freights in the Rockies' Kalmbach Publng 70-minute color DVD [4/2016] for $24.99 order at magazine website |
"The White Desert" silent feature film
[M.G.M. May 1925]
 | "This photo-drama was produced at tremendous cost and at a terrible risk of life." Filmed on location at Rollins Pass in the Colorado Rocky Mountains; the supervisor of the work gang pushing the digging of a railbed and tunnels over the Continental Divide wants speed, so he demands the use of dynamite. As predicted by the crew, the dynamite eventually causes an avalanche, which half-buries the camp and blocks arrival of supplies Directed by Reginald Barker; adapted by Monte M. Katterjohn & Gordon Rigby from the 1922 novel by Courtney Ryley Cooper; starring Claire Windsor, Pat O'Malley, Robert Frazer, Frank Currier, William Eugene, Roy Laidlaw, Sôjin, Priscilla Bonner, Snitz Edwards, Milton Ross & Matthew Betz DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
 | adapted from Denver author Courtney Ryley Cooper's novel "The White Desert" [Musson Book Co. 1922] Fili-Quarian Classics 11x8½ pb [7/2010] for $9.99 1st World Publng 8½x5½ hardcover [10/2008] for $24.95 |
"Denver & Rio Grande" [Paramount May 1952]
 | Filmed in Technicolor™ on the D&RGW line near Durango, Colorado; a fictional account of the 'Royal Gorge War' between the D&RGW and AT&SF railroads, circa 1878-80 • Directed by Byron Haskin; written by Frank Gruber; starring Edmond O'Brien, Sterling Hayden, Dean Jagger, Kasey Rogers, Lyle Bettger, J. Carrol Naish, Zasu Pitts, Paul Fix, Tom Powers, Robert Barrat, Don Haggerty & James Burke
Olive Films color Blu-ray [5/2012] for $22.28 Olive Films color DVD [5/2012] for $17.93 Paramount color VHS [11/98] for $1.99 {sic} full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
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