The following rail lines have been owned or operated by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad or its predecessors.
- Denver-Pueblo Joint Line: Denver (Union Station) to Pueblo
- Fort Logan Branch: Englewood (Military Junction) to Fort Logan
- Lehigh Branch: Louviers (Lehigh Junction) to Lehigh Mine
- Castle Rock Branch: Castle Rock to Hathaway
- O'Brien's Quarry Spur: Hathaway to O'Brien's Quarry
- Douglas Quarry Spur: Douglas to Madge Quarry
- Manitou Branch: Colorado Springs (Manitou Junction) to Manitou
- Royal Gorge Line: Pueblo to Salida via Royal Gorge
- Tennessee Pass Line: Salida to Grand Junction via Tennessee Pass
- Calumet Branch: Brown Canon (Hecla Junction) to Calumet
- Leadville Branch: Malta to Leadville
- California Gulch Branch: Oro Junction to Rowe Mill
- Ibex Branch: Leadville to Ibex
- Graham Park Branch: Graham Park Junction to Tucson
- Blue River Branch: Leadville to Dillon
- Ryan Cut-Off: Leadville Junction to Leadville (Leadville Branch)
- Aspen Branch: Glenwood Springs to Aspen
- Gunnison Line: Salida to Grand Junction via Marshall Pass and Black Canyon
- Utah Division: Grand Junction to Ogden
- Pueblo–Alamosa line: Pueblo to Alamosa
- Old Main Line: Minnequa (Sonora Junction) to Trinidad; branch from Cuchara Junction to Walsenburg (Walsenburg Junction)
- Rouse Branch: Rouse Junction to Rouse (later began at Mayne and then Monson on the C&S trackage rights)
- Old Rouse Branch: Old Rouse Junction to Old Rouse Mines
- Engleville Branch: Engleville Junction to Engleville
- Zinc Smelter Spur: Minnequa (Zinc Junction) to Blende
- Capers Branch: Mustang to Capers (including part of the Old Main Line near Capers)
- Colorado and Southern Railway trackage rights: Walsenburg to Longsdale Junction
- Reilly Canon Branch: Longsdale Junction to Boncarbo
- Loma Branch: Walsenburg (Loma Junction) to Alamo
- New Pacific Mine Spur: Pictou (New Pacific Junction) to New Pacific Mine
- Reliance Branch: La Veta (Reliance Junction) to Ojo
- Tropic Spur: La Veta (Tropic Junction) to Tropic
- Creede Branch: Alamosa to Creede
- Alamosa–Durango line (San Juan Extension): Alamosa to Durango
- Moffat Line: Denver (Union Station) to Dotsero (Tennessee Pass Line) via Moffat Tunnel
- Rio Grande Southern Railroad: Ridgway (Ouray Branch) to Durango
- Telluride Branch: Vance Junction to Pandora