The History of Devil's Gate High Bridge

The Devil's Gate High Bridge stands as one of the most impressive engineering feats of the 19th-century American West. Rising 95 feet above Clear Creek, this iconic structure has captivated visitors since its original construction in 1884.

The Engineering Challenge

When the Colorado Central Railroad set out to connect Georgetown with Silver Plume in the 1870s, engineers faced a seemingly impossible challenge. The two mining towns sat just two miles apart as the crow flies, but with an elevation difference of over 600 feet. Traditional railroad grades simply couldn't handle such a steep climb.

The solution came from engineer Robert Blickensderfer, who proposed a revolutionary approach: instead of fighting the mountain, the railroad would wrap around it. The resulting 4.5-mile route included four curves, two horseshoe bends, and the magnificent high bridge that would become the railroad's signature landmark.

Construction and Completion

Construction began in 1881 and took three years to complete. Workers, many of them immigrant miners seeking additional income, labored through harsh Colorado winters to lay track along the precarious mountain slopes. The high bridge itself required innovative cantilever construction techniques that were cutting-edge for the era.

When the loop was finally completed in 1884, it was immediately recognized as an engineering masterpiece. Newspapers across the country marveled at the "wonderful loop" that allowed trains to cross over their own tracks while climbing the mountain.

A Century of Service

The Georgetown Loop served the mining industry faithfully for decades, hauling silver ore down from the high country. When the mines closed in the early 20th century, the railroad continued as a tourist attraction until it was dismantled in 1939 when the demand for scrap metal made the operation economically unfeasible.

For decades, only remnants of the original roadbed remained, a ghost of Colorado's mining past slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

Rebirth and Restoration

The modern Georgetown Loop Railroad opened in 1984, exactly 100 years after the original. The restoration project was a labor of love, combining historical accuracy with modern safety standards. The reconstructed Devil's Gate High Bridge faithfully reproduces the original design while meeting contemporary engineering requirements.

Today, the bridge continues to inspire awe in visitors from around the world. As trains slowly traverse the span, passengers can look down at Clear Creek rushing below and imagine the miners and pioneers who made this same journey over a century ago.

The Devil's Gate High Bridge isn't just a railroad crossing - it's a bridge through time, connecting us to Colorado's remarkable mining heritage and the indomitable spirit of those who built the West.