In fact, as Colorado Day dawned, the bridges were still not completed, and the tracks ended just above the Wilson and Cass mill, "near the city line." Furthermore, the depot was also not quite finished. Nonetheless, on the morning of August 1 the first train chugged its way up the valley toward town. A large Georgetown contingent hired rigs and went to Mill City, where they boarded the train so they could claim to be passengers on the first train to reach Georgetown. An even larger group gathered at the end of the tracks. As the train slowed to a halt, huge cheers went up from all present - a new era had dawned for the "Silver Queen," for, at least symbolically, Loveland had kept his promise.

The actual arrival of the first passenger train at the Georgetown depot did not occur until August 13. Hundreds greeted it as it rolled in at 12:30 p.m. with 70 passengers on board. At 4 o'clock, the last rail was laid with golden and silver spikes, and appropriate speeches followed. At 6 o'clock, the evening train arrived bearing 300 guests, including "the representatives from other Fire Departments, and the running teams from abroad." Bands played, cannons (including Daily's brass cannon) roared their welcome, and "a thousand human voices gave greeting cheers."

The next day, August 14, the day of the Firemen's Tournament, four heavy excursion trains pulled into town, carrying "nearly two thousand people to the Silver Queen." At noon a grand parade took place from the town to the depot to welcome the new arrivals. Later, a huge crowd lined Alpine Street for the tournament-the Miner headlined "Eight Thousand People Rejoice," and the Courier called it "the greatest day Georgetown ever saw."