Synopsis
Railroads of Colorado, written by artist, photographer, and rail historian Mike Danneman and published in 2019, explores the iconic rail transport system traversing the rugged, mountainous terrain of the Centennial State. The book highlights how Colorado’s railway network was shaped by 19th-century mining booms. It traces the historical progression from early narrow-gauge lines designed to navigate steep mountain passes and narrow canyons to the heavy-haul modern Class I freight corridors and passenger routes operating today.
Leveraging Danneman’s background as a former art director for Trains magazine, the work functions as a visual survey filled with full-color original photography. Accompanied by descriptive commentary, the imagery documents famous rail passes, mainline routes, short lines, and preserved heritage railways across the state. The narrative captures the engineering challenges of operating locomotives through severe weather and steep alpine topography, providing an overview for railfans, historians, and landscape enthusiasts alike.