May 16th and 17th Colorado Railroad Museum
Colorado Crossings 2026
Fresh Paint for a Special Occasion
In preparation for Colorado Crossings, the 315’s tender has received a complete repaint and new lettering at the Colorado Railroad Museum shops. The result is a locomotive and tender combination that looks as close to original D&RGW condition as possible — a fitting appearance for such a special public event..
For the first time in years, two historic narrow gauge sister locomotives will run together under steam. The D&RGW 315 and her sister engine No. 20 will both be in operation at the Colorado Railroad Museum’s Colorado Crossings event on May 16th and 17th, 2026 — and the 315 has never looked better.
The 315 and No. 20 will be making loops around the museum grounds pulling passenger cars on both days — a rare opportunity to actually ride behind two of Colorado’s most historic steam locomotives. This is a public event open to all ages and is one of the most significant narrow gauge gatherings in recent memory.
No visit to the DRHS table at Colorado Crossings would be complete without picking up a copy of Locomotive 315: The Lives, Times, and Rebirth of an 1895 Steam Engine — the definitive history of the 315 from her origins on the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad through her complete restoration. This landmark 514-page hardcover features over 1,100 images, detailed technical drawings, and 230,000 words covering every chapter of the locomotive’s remarkable journey. Copies will be available for purchase at the event, and author George Niederauer will be on hand to sign your copy in person — a rare opportunity to get a personalized piece of narrow gauge history straight from the man who wrote it.