Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum


IMG_4873We stopped off at the Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum in Cripple Creek.  This was a functioning jail and prison up until 1997 when a new jail was built.

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Looking east down into downtown.  The inside of the jail was a bit too dark to take photos but it is worth a stop to look inside.

Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad



IMG_4711We went for a ride on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad.  It is a little steam-powered four mile long line that follows an old standard gauge rail bed.  From what I could tell, none of the rolling stock or other equipment was native to the area but it is a fun little train nonetheless.
IMG_4721One of the engines that hasn’t come out of winter hibernation yet.  Behind this engine is another that looks to be undergoing a major overhaul.

IMG_4722Most of the engines on the line come from Mexico.

IMG_4723This engine wasn’t in service today.

IMG_4726The train backing into the station.

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IMG_4729Nice old engine that is kept up well.

IMG_4730It is a coal-burning engine.

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IMG_4737The little station as we pull away on our trip.

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IMG_4741One of the original stations in Cripple Creek is now the district museum.

IMG_4745Looking back at the wye where the train turns around at the end of every run.

IMG_4746Big dark storm clouds on the horizon to the north of Cripple Creek.

IMG_4748A ramshackled collection of buildings.

IMG_4751The blackness started to blot out the sky.

IMG_4752Old shacks.

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IMG_4756Tailing piles.

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Heading through a rail cut.

IMG_4760Track gang replacing ties.

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IMG_4769Coal smoke from the engine with big tailing piles behind.

IMG_4771Big filled in run across a dry wash.  According to the narration on the train, the rock in this cut has fairly high gold content but it is prohibitively expensive to reclaim the gold at this point in time.

IMG_4772An adit on the hillside.

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IMG_4775At another wye where we turn around for the trip back to the station.  The railroad doesn’t reach Victor.  Maybe someday they’ll push it the rest of the way to Cripple Creek’s sister town.

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Looking south toward where the Arkansas River flows.



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Train picture!

IMG_4785Backing out onto the end of the wye.

IMG_4786No track beyond this point.

IMG_4790End of the line!

IMG_4792Tailing piles from the big strip mine.

IMG_4794Cute little coupler.  It looks like the individual cars don’t have any brakes on them.

IMG_4797Big storm cloud.

IMG_4798Cap on a shaft for one of the bigger hard rock mines in the area.

IMG_4803Heading back to Cripple Creek.

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IMG_4827The storm is starting to dump some rain north of Cripple Creek.

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Onto the wye to back into the station.

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IMG_4838Old parts and whatnot.

IMG_4842Boxcar storage.

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IMG_4851This engine needs a little work.