Cumbres
& Toltec Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec Railroad is a sixty-four mile sightseeing steam railroad operated by the states of New Mexico and Colorado. It is sometimes called the Chama train. The railroad runs from Antonito to Chama over the Cumbres Pass. The western slope of the pass runs a steep four percent grade. It began operation in 1880. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The railroad was featured in the 1988 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” that stars the actor Harrison Ford.
Durango & Silverton Railroad
The Durango & Silverton Railroad was founded in 1881. Narrow gauge tracks were laid from Durango to Silverton, Colorado in less than a year. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway built the line to haul mined gold and silver ore from the San Juan Mountains. Using vintage steam locomotives, this scenic excursion has been in operation over 125 years. It has always been a popular route for passengers because of the spectacular views. The Durango & Silverton Railway was registered as a National Historic Landmark in the 1960’s. The train locomotives are steam powered by coal. They are 1925 vintage engines. The Durango & Silverton line is owned by American Heritage Railways.
Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway runs from the train depot in Williams, Arizona to the park-service owned Grand Canyon Depot on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. It is a sixty-four mile trip. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railways finished the tracks to Grand Canyon in 1901 to carry sightseers and freight. It was the railroad that designed and built the El Tovar Hotel, located just twenty feet from the canyon rim, to house visitors from the train. Competing with car traffic and lack of interest, the Grand Canyon Railway shut down in 1968. Several attempts to restart the train were unsuccessful for
many years. A Phoenix husband and wife team bought the railway in 1989 and began the Grand Canyon train runs as an independent company. There are two trains a day during the warm summer months and for holiday seasons. Steam engines are used during the summer while diesel engines from the 1950’s pull the train other seasons. The Grand Canyon Railway is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and has 480 employees. Xanterra Parks & Resorts, a Denver, Colorado based company, bought the railway in 2006. Xanterra run many of the hotels and stores inside many national parks for the National Park Service throughout the United States. Almost a quarter of a million visitors rode the train in 2006.
Great Smokey Mountain Railroad
The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad is also known as the GSMR. In 2006, the railway operated almost a thousand passenger trips. Nearly 200,000 people rode the train. The popular scenic sightseeing trip is the Bryson City, North Carolina run to the Nantahala Gorge. This trip runs beside the Nantahala River and has a rest stop before the return trip at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Waving to rafters, canoeists, and kayakers is a fun pastime on the excursion. The NOC operates guided raft trips, stores, and restaurants on the Nantahala River. Another popular trip is from Dillsboro to Nantahala at the Bryson City Depot. It runs along the Tuckasegee River. Standard coach car seating, crown cars with upgraded seats, and open air cars are all available. During colder months, blankets are available on the open cars to keep warm. Dinner train trips are also offered. Bathroom facilities are on most cars. Because the train cars are vintage, handicap access can be limited. No pets are allowed on the train. The moves “The Fugitive, Forces of Nature, and My Fellow Americans” have all been filmed on the Great Smokey Mountain Railway. The GSMR has been owned by American Heritage Railways since 1999.
Mount Hood Railroad
Mount Hood Railroad scenic trips run from the depot in Hood River, Oregon ending at Parkdale, Oregon. The railroad is located about sixty miles east of Portland near the Columbia River Gorge. There are twenty-one miles of track on the excursion. On a clear day, the top of Mount Shasta and Mount Adams can be viewed. The Mount Hood to Parkdale trip timetable is four hours. The Hood River to Odell run is 2 ½ hours long. Reservations for dinner train excursions can also be made. The Mount Hood Railroad Depot is at 110 Railroad Avenue, Hood River, Oregon. The cost of an adult ticket is $25 to $30.
The Cumbres & Toltec Railroad is a sixty-four mile sightseeing steam railroad operated by the states of New Mexico and Colorado. It is sometimes called the Chama train. The railroad runs from Antonito to Chama over the Cumbres Pass. The western slope of the pass runs a steep four percent grade. It began operation in 1880. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The railroad was featured in the 1988 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” that stars the actor Harrison Ford.
Durango & Silverton Railroad
The Durango & Silverton Railroad was founded in 1881. Narrow gauge tracks were laid from Durango to Silverton, Colorado in less than a year. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway built the line to haul mined gold and silver ore from the San Juan Mountains. Using vintage steam locomotives, this scenic excursion has been in operation over 125 years. It has always been a popular route for passengers because of the spectacular views. The Durango & Silverton Railway was registered as a National Historic Landmark in the 1960’s. The train locomotives are steam powered by coal. They are 1925 vintage engines. The Durango & Silverton line is owned by American Heritage Railways.
Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway runs from the train depot in Williams, Arizona to the park-service owned Grand Canyon Depot on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. It is a sixty-four mile trip. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railways finished the tracks to Grand Canyon in 1901 to carry sightseers and freight. It was the railroad that designed and built the El Tovar Hotel, located just twenty feet from the canyon rim, to house visitors from the train. Competing with car traffic and lack of interest, the Grand Canyon Railway shut down in 1968. Several attempts to restart the train were unsuccessful for
many years. A Phoenix husband and wife team bought the railway in 1989 and began the Grand Canyon train runs as an independent company. There are two trains a day during the warm summer months and for holiday seasons. Steam engines are used during the summer while diesel engines from the 1950’s pull the train other seasons. The Grand Canyon Railway is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and has 480 employees. Xanterra Parks & Resorts, a Denver, Colorado based company, bought the railway in 2006. Xanterra run many of the hotels and stores inside many national parks for the National Park Service throughout the United States. Almost a quarter of a million visitors rode the train in 2006.
Great Smokey Mountain Railroad
The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad is also known as the GSMR. In 2006, the railway operated almost a thousand passenger trips. Nearly 200,000 people rode the train. The popular scenic sightseeing trip is the Bryson City, North Carolina run to the Nantahala Gorge. This trip runs beside the Nantahala River and has a rest stop before the return trip at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Waving to rafters, canoeists, and kayakers is a fun pastime on the excursion. The NOC operates guided raft trips, stores, and restaurants on the Nantahala River. Another popular trip is from Dillsboro to Nantahala at the Bryson City Depot. It runs along the Tuckasegee River. Standard coach car seating, crown cars with upgraded seats, and open air cars are all available. During colder months, blankets are available on the open cars to keep warm. Dinner train trips are also offered. Bathroom facilities are on most cars. Because the train cars are vintage, handicap access can be limited. No pets are allowed on the train. The moves “The Fugitive, Forces of Nature, and My Fellow Americans” have all been filmed on the Great Smokey Mountain Railway. The GSMR has been owned by American Heritage Railways since 1999.
Mount Hood Railroad
Mount Hood Railroad scenic trips run from the depot in Hood River, Oregon ending at Parkdale, Oregon. The railroad is located about sixty miles east of Portland near the Columbia River Gorge. There are twenty-one miles of track on the excursion. On a clear day, the top of Mount Shasta and Mount Adams can be viewed. The Mount Hood to Parkdale trip timetable is four hours. The Hood River to Odell run is 2 ½ hours long. Reservations for dinner train excursions can also be made. The Mount Hood Railroad Depot is at 110 Railroad Avenue, Hood River, Oregon. The cost of an adult ticket is $25 to $30.
