Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Begins Service

July 31, 1872, saw the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad launch regular narrow-gauge passenger and freight service from Denver to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded by General William Jackson Palmer, the line used 3-foot gauge tracks to navigate the rugged Rocky Mountain terrain, a pioneering choice that reduced construction costs. This innovation helped open the American West to mining and settlement, with early trains hauled by Baldwin locomotives. The railroad's success influenced narrow-gauge adoption across the Rockies and connected remote areas to national markets.