Entry No. 30 — the Boulder file — filed under: converted-railroad
Train Cars Coffee & Kava
Three century-old railroad cars sit side by side at 8,236 feet on the Peak to Peak Highway in Nederland, and together they form one of Colorado's most singular coffee stops. The anchor is a 1906 Pullman dining coach built for the Colorado and Southern Railroad — plush wooden construction, steel reinforced in 1922, retired from the Denver-to-Louisville run in 1970. Beside it stands a 1910 Colorado and Southern caboose with its original all-wooden curved ceiling and sleeping bunks for eight, damaged in the 1965 South Platte Flood and still bearing the scars. The third car is the strangest: an 1872 Union Pacific railway post office car that spent time as an advance-advertising car for the Sells-Floto Circus, promoting shows featuring Buffalo Bill Cody in 1914–15 — original exterior painting intact. Each car has its own personality; a piano room and game room fill out the space. The menu runs locally roasted coffee, Grade A kava, breakfast sandwiches, and legendary mini donuts.
The story
Drive 35 minutes up Canyon Boulevard out of Boulder, gain two thousand feet of elevation, and you drop into Nederland at 8,236 feet. Parked along the gravel off the Peak to Peak Highway sits a trio of century-old train cars resting side by side. They aren't reproduction diners or themed novelties; they are three distinct pieces of retired rolling stock, each carrying a weirdly specific, unvarnished history.
The anchor car is a 1906 Pullman dining coach built for the Colorado & Southern Railroad—plush wooden construction, steel-reinforced in 1922—that ran the Denver-to-Louisville line until its retirement in 1970. Beside it stands a 1910 Colorado & Southern caboose featuring its original curved wooden ceiling, crew sleeping bunks for eight, and water scars left behind by the devastating 1965 South Platte River flood. The strangest of the bunch is an 1872 Union Pacific railway post office car. In 1914 and 1915, it was repurposed as an advance-advertising car for the Sells-Floto Circus, riding ahead of the main troupe to slap up promotional posters for shows starring Buffalo Bill Cody. Its original exterior paint from those circus runs is still clinging to the exterior boards.
Inside, the cars link together into a low-ceilinged, narrow labyrinth featuring distinct seating chambers, a piano room, and a game room. Behind the counter, the menu skips typical mountain-diner staples in favor of Grade A kava, spicy Sherpa Chai brewed locally in Boulder, espresso, breakfast sandwiches, and hot mini donuts fried on site.
What it's like
Expect sharp mountain air the moment you step out into the gravel parking lot—even in midsummer—so keep a fleece in the car. Inside, the layout is narrow and wooden; step through the connecting doorways to inspect each car before picking a table. The 1872 circus car provides the most surreal backdrop, while the 1910 caboose offers quieter alcoves around the old crew bunks. Grab a bowl of kava or a cortado alongside a fresh basket of cinnamon-sugar mini donuts. Weekend mid-mornings see steady traffic up from Canyon Boulevard, so target a weekday morning if you want to sit undisturbed or play the piano.
The move: Drive the Peak to Peak Highway from Boulder and make this your first stop. Pick a car based on mood — the circus car for the most surreal backdrop, the caboose for cozy privacy. Order kava or a cortado, split the cinnamon-sugar mini donuts, and let the weird history of the rolling stock do the talking.
📍 Before you go Open daily 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM, year-round — no reservations needed. Nederland sits at 8,236 ft so expect cold mornings even in summer; bring a layer. Weekends draw bigger crowds; weekday mornings are quieter. Parking is easy in the gravel lot alongside the cars. The shop is dog-friendly. From Pearl Street in Boulder the drive is roughly 35–40 minutes up Canyon Boulevard — factor in the elevation gain if you are sensitive to altitude.
- 📍 Nederland, CO
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 101 S Peak to Peak Hwy (CO-119), Nederland, CO 80466
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Carousel of Happiness — Walk down the street after your kava to ride a 1910 hand-carved wooden carousel housed inside a mountain hall.
- Nederland Mining Museum — Head two blocks over to stand beside the sole surviving Panama Canal Bucyrus steam shovel parked in the yard.
- Grandpa Bredo's Tuff Shed — Drive half a mile up the slope to view the shed tied to Nederland's famous cryonics history.
- Caribou Ghost Town — Follow the mountain roads west up to 10,000 feet to explore the decaying stone ruins of an 1869 silver mining camp.
Good to know
Where is Train Cars Coffee & Kava located and how do I get there from Boulder?
It is located at 101 S Peak to Peak Hwy (CO-119) in Nederland, CO. From downtown Boulder, drive roughly 35 to 40 minutes west up Canyon Boulevard (CO-119).
What are their hours and do they take reservations?
They are open daily year-round from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. No reservations are taken; seating is strictly first-come, first-served.
What is on the food and drink menu?
The shop serves locally roasted coffee, Grade A kava, Sherpa Chai (brewed locally in Boulder), breakfast sandwiches, and cinnamon-sugar mini donuts.
Is parking available and are dogs allowed?
Yes, there is free parking in the gravel lot directly alongside the train cars, and the shop is dog-friendly.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · gazette.com · Yelp · everafterinthewoods.com
last checked: 2026-06-11