Photo by Jeffrey Beall from Colorado, USA, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
About Fort Collins Municipal Railway
Riding the Fort Collins Municipal Railway’s restored Birney Safety Streetcar traverses a 1.5‑mile (2.4 km) stretch along West Mountain Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado. The double‑ended car, built in 1919 by the American Car Company, measures roughly 27 ft 9½ in. long and 8 ft wide, drawing 600 V DC from an overhead trolley wire via a single pole.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- CO
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ 74 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Fort Collins Municipal Railway. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- First Departure
- 4:30 PM
- Parking
- Free lot · street parking
- Accessibility
- Accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Hours
- Monday: ClosedTuesday: ClosedWednesday: ClosedThursday: ClosedFriday: ClosedSaturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PMSunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Find the Depot
The Trains
Fort Collins Municipal Railway operates the 1919 American Car Company Birney Safety Streetcar No. 21, a double‑ended trolley about 27 ft 9½ in (8.471 m) long and 8 ft (2.4 m) wide, powered by 600‑volt DC collected from an overhead wire via a single trolley pole. The heritage line runs on a 1.5‑mile (2.4 km) section of track laid along West Mountain Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue, restored under a 1981 city agreement. The car and its 1.5‑mile route constitute the surviving portion of the former Fort Collins streetcar system, which used only Birney‑type cars from 1919 until abandonment in 1951.
History
See full history
The Fort Collins Municipal Railway becomes municipal in 1919, when the city purchases four new Birney Safety Cars (Nos. 20‑23) and operates the system exclusively with that design until it ceases service on June 30 1951, at which time it is the last U.S. streetcar system still running Birney cars. After decades of exposure, the Fort Collins Junior Women’s Club proposes a cosmetic fix for Car 21 in 1977, a plan that expands into a full restoration and heritage operation. The non‑profit Fort Collins Municipal Railway Society is incorporated on March 31 1980, and in 1981 the city signs an agreement allowing the society to rebuild a 1.5‑mile track segment. A new carbarn is constructed during 1982‑1983; Car 21 is moved into it on August 21 1983 and volunteers begin restoration. Restoration of both the track and Car 21 finishes in 1984, the car is listed on the National Register of Historic Places that year, and the heritage line opens to the public on December 29 1984.
Around the Depot
The Fort Collins Municipal Railway in Colorado sits about 25 mi from the Colorado Model Railroad Museum, an easy pairing.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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