Here we are in 2026, and the start of the year. What is appropriate? I remember when the big newspapers spent many pages on the year’s old news. Well, this column is old news every month, so for fun, let us ride a train?

There were many ‘Santa Trains’ this year, but 100+ years ago plus, there were none. Christmas was different then. When I worked on the Pikes Peak the Santa Trains a popular attraction was Santa meeting the trains at the station. Pikes Peak #15 at Woodland Park and #17 at the Trolley Museum made this trip many times. The Royal Gorge Train has a well received Santa train, but the Durango and Silverton has a real Polar Express. Incidentally, railroads need a special permit to call their train the Polar Express. The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden often has Thomas the Tank Engine in December.

Thirty years ago there was a train from Limon to Falcon and it ran a Santa Train. The railroad museum at Pueblo’s railroad station has a train is made up of cabooses. This year, almost every trip was filled. Not all of the railroads operate in the winter, even though this one was very warm.

I enjoy riding in a warm railroad car when it is going through the snow. I have ridden the ‘old’ ski train to Winter Park over the years. I remember watching the elk standing along the tracks as we went past. I have not been on the new AMTRAK ski train, but maybe someday.

Anyway, we will be riding many more trains right here this year, be sure to join us.

HAPPY 2026!