Leadville, Colorado -- Timing is everything, especially for Texans making a two-day drive in hopes of catching peak foliage color on a tourist train in Leadville, Colorado.
But memories of a long drive through the Texas Panhandle quickly fade away as the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad rumbles through stands of white-barked aspen trees bathed in brilliantly colored leaves.
Every year as September gives way to October, there's still "gold in them thar hills."
Actually, it was silver that earned this town a unique place in history and any story of Leadville would have to include silver tycoon Horace "Haw" Tabor, his second wife, Baby Doe Tabor, Doc Holliday, Oscar Wilde, Texas Jack Omohundro and Molly Brown of Titanic fame.
At an elevation of 10,152 feet, this is the highest incorporated city in the U.S.
But the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad has an interesting story, as well.
A local couple, Ken and Stephanie Olsen had a vision of how a tourist train could benefit the area and, in late 1987, the Olsens were given an opportunity to make their dream a reality; the High Line to Leadville was sold to Ken and Stephanie for a symbolic $10. However, the investment would come later in the form of repairs to this section of rail and the renovation of flatcars into excursion cars.
After five months of fast and furious work, the diesel locomotive pulled away from the century-old Leadville depot on Memorial Day 1988 and a tourist train was born.
For 36 years, tourists have come from near and far to take a literal ride through history while a well-versed conductor tells the story of what was once the richest silver camp in the world and the colorful cast of characters that passed through this town.
For more information about the
Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, please visit
http://www.leadville-train.com/
photos by Allen and Cindy Rich
