Denver Rail Heritage Society

Background Statement

The Denver Rail Heritage Society ("DRHS") was formed in 1978 to preserve the history of railroads and trolleys, including architectural artifacts, in the Denver area so that future generations would understand the role that each of these modes of transportation played in shaping Denver's growth and development.

The DRHS owns two Denver streetcar bodies, the #04 and the #83. Car 04, which was the last streetcar to operate in Denver, is on the State Register of Historic Properties. Car .04 will soon be transferred to the City of Arvada to be incorporated into the city's plan to share historical transportation information in conjunction with the opening of RTD's G Line. Denver Tramway Car 83 is a representative of Denver's streetcars. Both cars are currently stored and not accessible to the public as their current condition makes them unsafe for the general public. Our 1950s era AT&SF railroad caboose is on static public display at our Confluence Park terminus.

The DRHS has continued to operate an "open air" trolley car since 1989 along the original railroad tracks that parallel the South Platte River from 15th Street to Old Colfax. The operation of the Denver Trolley has become the primary function of the DRHS and is the focus of development planning.