COLORADO SPRINGS' PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Colorado Springs in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Colorado Springs, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Santa Fe Station
555 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
Opened 1918

Rio Grande Station
10 S. Sierra Madre St.
Opened 1887

In 1918, when the United States Railway Administration controlled the nation's railroads on account of World War I, a "paired track" arrangement was adopted for the two main railroads operating between Denver and Pueblo. Southbound trains used the original Rio Grande track, and northbound trains used the original Santa Fe track. Trains thus stopped at different stations depending on the direction. Rock Island trains terminated at the Rio Grande station.

SANTA FE

(Santa Fe Station)

Departures-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 13                        Denver          6:05 am     8:46  201  10:45 pm
  9  Centennial State      Denver         10:00  223  10:45 am
Arrivals-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 13                        La Junta        6:00 am     8:46  201  10:45 pm
  9  Centennial State      Kansas City     9:55  223  10:45 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

RIO GRANDE

(Santa Fe Station)

Departures-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 16                        Denver          5:05
  4  Colorado Eagle        Denver          6:57        8:11
  2  Scenic Limited        Denver          4:40        1:05
Arrivals-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 16                        Alamosa         5:00
  4  Colorado Eagle        St. Louis       6:57        8:11
  2  Scenic Limited        Ogden           4:35        1:00
Passenger service discontinued in 1967, last train was the Royal Gorge (formerly the Scenic Limited).

BURLINGTON ROUTE (COLORADO & SOUTHERN)

(Santa Fe Station)

Departures-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 22  Texas Zephyr          Denver          6:35 am     5:15 am
 28  Gulf Coast Special    Denver          6:35 pm     4:08 pm
Arrivals-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 22  Texas Zephyr          Dallas          6:35 am     5:15 am
 28  Gulf Coast Special    Dallas          6:30 pm     4:08 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1967, last train was the Texas Zephyr.

SANTA FE

(Rio Grande Station)

Departures-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 10  Centennial State      Kansas City     5:55  224   7:45 pm
 14                        La Junta       11:25 pm     1:15  190   5:10 pm
Arrivals-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 10  Centennial State      Denver          5:50  224   7:45 pm
 14                        Denver         11:20 pm     1:15  190   5:10 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

RIO GRANDE

(Rio Grande Station)

Departures-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  1  Scenic Limited        Ogden          10:45       10:50
  3  Colorado Eagle        St. Louis       5:31        5:38
 15                        Alamosa         9:45
Arrivals-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  1  Scenic Limited        Denver         10:40       10:45
  3  Colorado Eagle        Denver          5:31        5:38
 15                        Denver          9:35
Passenger service discontinued in 1967, last train was the Royal Gorge (formerly the Scenic Limited).

BURLINGTON ROUTE (COLORADO & SOUTHERN)

(Rio Grande Station)

Departures-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 21  Texas Zephyr          Dallas          2:10 pm     1:40 pm
 27  Gulf Coast Special    Dallas         10:05 pm     9:58 pm
Arrivals-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 21  Texas Zephyr          Denver          2:10 pm     1:40 pm
 27  Gulf Coast Special    Denver         10:00 pm     9:58 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1967, last train was the Texas Zephyr.

ROCK ISLAND

(Rio Grande Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  8  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Limon          12:45 pm    12:35 pm
  6  Colorado Express      Chicago         9:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  5  Colorado Express      Chicago         7:50 am
  7  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Limon           8:35 am     8:35 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1966, last train was the Rocky Mountain Rocket.

STATIONS TODAY

The last passenger trains served Colorado Springs in 1971, discontinued with the creation of Amtrak.

The Santa Fe station still stands, and is occupied by various businesses.

The Rio Grande station still stands, and is now a restaurant.

ATSF Colorado Springs Depot
Link to a Web site containing further historical information on the Santa Fe station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

With the paired track arrangement used by trains serving Colorado Springs, all southbound trains used the Rio Grande station and all northbound trains used the Santa Fe station. Rock Island trains terminated at the Rio Grande station, its line proceeded north and then turned east, passing under the Santa Fe track.