October 27, 1870 is etched in the history of Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. On that day, General William Jackson Palmer and his associates filed articles of incorporation for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Over the next century, this railroad would weave its tracks through rugged mountain passes, defying nature’s obstacles. It’s a tale of men and machines—of laborers driving spikes into rock and steam locomotives conquering elevation and gravity. Beyond the tracks, decisions unfolded in boardrooms, where visionaries plotted expansion and prosperity. The railroad attracted dreamers and schemers alike. And it carved its path “through the Rockies, not around them.”

Today, the Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society ensures that this legacy lives on. Through The Prospector magazine, conventions, model support, and digital archives, we honor the pioneers, engineers, and conductors who etched their names into the rugged landscape—a testament to human ingenuity and the indomitable spirit of the rails.