Colorful Steam in Colorado: The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Cripple Creek & Victor is a 2-foot-gauge steam railroad running between Cripple Creek and Anaconda, Colorado, through former mining claims on the historic former roadbed of the 3-foot-gauge Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad (later the standard gauge Midland Terminal Railway). The tracks run through the Cripple Creek Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.
The most common engines seen on the line are Locomotives 2 and 3, both with 0-4-0 wheel configurations. There is also an operable 0-4-4-0 Mallet, No. 1, which rarely sees service.
Locomotive No. 3 is a coal-fired Porter 0-4-0T built in 1927 that was used in Mexico by the Compania de Minerales & Metales (later Cia. Metalurgica Mexicana Penoles). It was brought to Colorado in the late 1960s and in 1968 inaugurated service on the Cripple Creek & Victor.
Locomotive No. 2 is a coal-fired 0-4-0 built by Henschel & Son of Kassel, Germany, in 1948 for Hanseatische Kieswerke. Formerly an 0-4-0T tank engine, it was converted into a tender engine and began operations on the CC&V in the early 1970s.
For train times, visit cripplecreekra...

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There are plenty of Narrow gauge railroads across the US but there aren't that many 2 foot (610 mm) narrow gauge railroads around. Ironically, this was the chosen gauge railroad width for the cooperative allied forces of World War One because in order to supply troops at the front in their trenches, the allied nations needed a narrow gauge rail that was harmonious with Meters and Feet in order that it fit French, British and American locomotives and railcars that were in existence before the war. 24 inches (2 Feet) equaled 610MM. Also, the rail lines that extended forward as the front moved were much easier to lay down with army troop muscle power due to the lighter weight. One last thing. When Locomotives were unavailable, knocked out or out of steam. Mules could pull the train cars along with not much more effort than that of a street car.