Were railroads important to this area?

Railroads proved absolutely critical to the development and success of the Cripple Creek Mining District, transforming transportation from slow, costly horse-drawn wagons to efficient rail service. The Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad, completed in 1894, became the major transportation link between the gold camps and the Arkansas Valley, with twelve stations established along the F&CC grade to service trains hauling coal and supplies upgrade while returning heavy with gold ore downgrade to Florence's smelters. On May 27, 1894, the first passenger train of the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad climbed up Phantom Canyon to Victor, winning the race to connect Cripple Creek with the modern world.

By 1900, Cripple Creek had three railroads and two electric trams serving the bustling mining district, while Florence's eight mills processed more than 1,300 tons of gold ore daily delivered by rail. Tourists enjoyed visiting the gold camps via several excursion trains that ran daily along the Gold Belt Line, making mining tourism a significant industry. The Hundley Stage Route connected Florissant to the Colorado Midland Railroad, operating 15 six-horse stages daily carrying passengers and mail between the railroad and Cripple Creek. Today, Phantom Canyon Road follows the historic F&CC Railroad grade, and visitors can still see two granite tunnels carved through solid rock and bridges that once supported trains carrying the wealth of America's greatest gold camp.