Colorado's Narrow Gauge Railroads

This excellent documentary traces the history of Colorado's narrow gauge railroads from the westward expansion of the 1850's to the present-day tours on reconstructed railroad lines. Following the major move to the west, President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Bill in 1862, and the Golden Spike linking rails from coast to coast was driven at Promontory, Utah in 1869. Beginning in the 1870's and running through the 1890's, Colorado experienced its big railroad boom. After a peek at some of the more interesting curios on display in the Colorado Railroad Museum, viewers are treated to cinematic tours on board the Durango & Silverton line (purchased in 1981 by Charles Bradshaw and rebuilt with historical accuracy), the Cumbres & Toltec line, the Georgetown Loop with its famous Devil's Gate trestle (some 95 ft. straight up, or straight down, depending on how you want to look at it), and the Cripple Creek Victor railroad (where an actress portraying the prostitute Jenny LaRue discusses the good old days when business was boomin'.) Historically interesting and generally entertaining, Colorado's Narrow Gauge Railroads would make a wonderful addition to the library shelves, and is highly recommended. (Available from: Baker & Taylor, 8140 N. Lehigh Ave., Morton Grove, IL 60053.)