A Family's Passion for Railroading

Western Guideways, a family business, provides an enriching experience for tourists on steam trains in Colorado. Our focus is on offering informative books that delve into the captivating history, geology, and nature along the scenic train routes. As we look to the future, we aim to enhance our services by promoting events and sharing valuable railway information with our customers.

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Being a Denver, Colorado native, Doris B. Osterwald was introduced, at a young age, to the infinite variety of natural features of the West, and to its fascinating history.  These interests led her to study geology.  While working on a MA degree at the University of Wyoming, she met her future husband, also a geologist, Dr. Frank W. Osterwald.  The couple coauthored Bulletin 45, Wyoming Mineral Resources for the Geological Survey of Wyoming in 1952.

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Cinders & Smoke, a Mile by Mile Guide® for the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Trip was published in 1965.  This highly popular Mile by Mile Guide was followed in 1972 by Narrow Gauge to Cumbres, a Pictorial History of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, (now out of print), and in 1976, Ticket to Toltec, a Mile by Mile Guide for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.  In 1989, she completed Rocky Mountain Splendor, a Mile by Mile Guide for Rocky Mountain National Park.  In 1990, this book received an award for excellence from the Colorado Connoisseur Magazine.  More than 450,000 copies of her guidebooks have been sold through 1990.  Beyond the Third Rail with Monte Ballough and his Camera was published in 1994.