By the First World War both the Canadian Northern and the GTP, shackled with loss-making mountain railroads, were in deep financial difficulties.
This ascent to the point where the line turned west, is a great example of exceptional mountain railroad surveying.
During the Great Depression increasing operational costs made it expensive to operate trains over the mountain railroad.
As the Union Pacific absorbed the D&RGW into its system, signs of the fabled mountain railroad's existence are slowly fading away.
Lowe was introduced to David J. Macpherson, a civil engineer, who had drawn up plans for a scenic mountain railroad.
Early Pasadenans always had a dream of a scenic mountain railroad to the crest of the San Gabriel Mountains.
This arrangement concentrated the problems of a mountain railroad in one area.
And many local tourist boards have halved ticket prices for ski lifts and mountain railroads, to allow visitors to hike or sightsee.
The museum was established in 1959 to preserve a record of Colorado's flamboyant railroad era, particularly the state's pioneering narrow gauge mountain railroads.
Roads, cable cars, mountain railroads and walkways were built up, through and along the steepest of cliffs.