A third-generation railroad man, Dr. John M. Birmingham wanted to honor his family’s vocation with a monument to trains' role in American expansion. So in 1965, he purchased two early locomotives and refurbished the former Anaconda train station, originally built in 1894, to serve as his ticket office. Offering tours that showcase the area's rich history as a gold-mining hub, the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad opened for business in June 1967.

Ever since, Birmingham's iron horses have chugged through the countryside from mid-May to mid-October every year. Four trains, each a 15-ton coal-fired locomotive, now complete a 4-mile, roughly 45-minute loop from Cripple Creek, past the Midland Terminal Wye, and back to the station, passing many historical mines on the way. Passengers find themselves transported back to the early mining days as a knowledgeable guide narrates the picturesque trip and serves up tidbits of local lore. The train stops briefly for photo opportunities at several points, including Echo Valley and wherever there's a sasquatch willing to give people bunny ears.