#1
Far and away the best ride was the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad running 64 miles from Chama New Mexico to Antonito Colorado. This is an all day trip on a narrow gauge steam train that climbs to over 10,000 feet elevation as it winds back and forth from Colorado to New Mexico 11 times. A stop for lunch at Osier and then it's back on the train to complete the trip to Antonito. A bus ride back to Chama completes the trip. The sites are some of the best I've seen from any railroad.
#2
The Virginia Truckee railroad trip to Virginia City was the second favorite ride of the summer. The 1 1/2 hour trip from the east side of Carson City to the old mining town of Virginia City Nevada on a standard gauge steam engine is spectacular. You pass by several old mining operations and shortly before reaching Virginia City you pass the town of Gold Hill. A 4 hour layover in Virginia City allows time for lunch or to explore the town and then you return to Carson City. The bonus on this trip was seeing 3 herds of wild horses alongside the tracks on BLM land.
#3
Even though it was a train ride, which is always fun, my least impressive railroad was the Grand Canyon Railroad from Williams Arizona to Grand Canyon Village. First of all it was diesel, not steam, that's a minus. Second the run to the canyon is through the pines which limits the scenery. On the plus side the onboard entertainment with strolling musicians and a return trip gunfight did help pass the time.
That's my assessment of the three trips I took this summer. If I were to ride any of them again I would go out of my way to ride the Cumbres & Toltec, it was just that impressive. But I will also say riding any train is an excellent way to enjoy the good life.
Excellent reporting. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNext time you're in NM you need to go to Chama and ride that one. You will be impressed.
DeleteI wish I could stand the altitude but Chama is well over a 1000 feet higher than I can handle.
DeleteI think you had a very successful summer of living the good life!
ReplyDeleteI thin so too, I'll reflect on it over the winter. Lots of memories.
DeleteHave you ever ridden the Durango to Silverton Railroad?
ReplyDeleteYes I have, it would rank right after the Cumbres & Toltec
DeleteSo do you have your sights set on any other train rides in the future? Are there any in NM?
ReplyDeleteNot in the foreseeable future. There are only two listed in NM the Cumbres & Toltec the other one listed is the Santa Fe Southern Railroad (http://www.sfsr.com/)which is an actual mixed freight train running between Santa Fe and Lamy NM. However in checking their web site they have suspended operations for 2013 with plans to run in 2014. Maybe next year.
DeleteYou must add that spending time with family on the Grand Canyon train made it all worthwhile!! I agree that the Grand Canyon train wasn't really very impressive. I would definitely just drive to the canyon.
ReplyDeleteJust tonight they had all the train trips you can take on State Park Trains. Of course I fell asleep just before the last trip. Oh well since I slept pretty good I am now wide awake and it will be on again tonight. I would love to do them but the one I want to do most is Alaska.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of train trips in my bucket list. So little time.
DeleteWhen we did the CG railroad, it was with the stream locomotive. I guess it must have been down for maintenance when you were there. That's a same. :c(
ReplyDeleteI meant "shame".
ReplyDeleteActually the GC railroad has switched to diesel. They only run the steam engine about 6 times a year for special events and we weren't special enough.
DeleteThanks for the report. I have never been on a train...maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteThe tourist railroads are a lot of fun.
DeleteTexas State Parks has a train in Rusk, TX. It is probably not as good as the trains rides you took through the mountains, but it is in the Piney Woods area of TX.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out in my book.
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