The Rocky Mountaineer

The spectacular highlights of the Canadian Rockies are yours to discover when you travel aboard the Rocky Mountaineer® and experience "The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World"™. Each Rocky Mountaineer ® rail vacation features spectacular scenery and unmatched onboard service, with an overnight stay in comfortable accommodations midway so that you do not miss the spectacular scenery.

Traveling aboard the Rocky Mountaineer ® is a remarkable experience, considered by many to be the trip of a lifetime. Two-day rail journeys recapture the romance of rail travel as they follow the historic train route constructed over 100 years ago that united the country through Canada’s West and the Canadian Rockies. The entire train journey takes place during daylight to ensure that you enjoy every minute of the breathtaking scenery of glacier-fed lakes, majestic mountains ranges and ferocious rivers.

The Rocky Mountaineer ® train travels in both eastbound and westbound directions between the beautiful coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia, the resort town of Whistler, British Columbia, and Jasper or Banff and Calgary, in Alberta.

These are the Canadian train vacations that made the Rocky Mountaineer ® famous throughout the world! [more information]

Verde Canyon Railroad

A ride on Verde Canyon Railroad‘s historic route from Clarkdale to the ghost ranch of Perkinsville and back, into Arizona’s other grand canyon, is an unforgettable experience. Home to America’s national symbol, the majestic bald eagle, Verde Canyon is accessible only by rail. The historic route is nestled between two national forests and adjacent to a designated wilderness area. This unique geological wonderland features rugged, high desert rock faces and spectacular panoramic views. This distinctive confluence of desert and wetland is populated by a variety of wildlife, which thrives among the indigenous trees, shrubs, cactuses and wildflowers. Passengers on this popular excursion train are enthralled as the eagle-decorated vintage engines roll past towering, crimson cliffs, near ancient Indian ruins, over old-fashioned trestles and through a 680-foot manmade tunnel on a four-hour round trip to deserted Perkinsville Ranch and back. Expert narration and guides leave passengers with a sense of history, archaeology, geology, wildlife and the Indian lore of the Verde Canyon. Original music also is an integral part of the excursion that takes passengers through Arizona’s longest-running nature show. Verde Canyon Railroad, nestled in the heart of the expansive Verde Valley, is ideally located above the heat of the desert and below the cold of Arizona’s high country.

Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad

The Verde Canyon Railway is not far away from Phoenix. Take a train trip through a beautiful canyon in central Arizona. The Verde Canyon Railroad (formerly the Verde Valley Railroad) of Arizona was originally built to support Arizona’s richest copper mine, located in Jerome. Now visitors enjoy the Verde Canyon Railway excursions to enjoy a leisurely trip, view the natural surroundings and participate in special events.

The Verde Canyon Railroad offers a 4 hour, out and back, train excursion along the beautiful Verde River. They also offer numerous special events including Easter Bunny and Christmas trips, Mystery Trips, Wine Tasting (Grape Escape) trips and, for you chocoholics, the Chocolate Lover’s Festival in February. In the summer, look for moonlight trips where you travel out during the sunset and back under starry skies.

The Verde Canyon Railroad offers first class cars with couch seating, tables, personal service from an extensive bar and a snack buffet. The coach class cars are typical of railroad travel from the ’30′s and ’40′s with row seating and no tables. Both classes of travel can access the open air observation cars.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

1860 – 1882

The City of Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881, and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. By July of 1882, only 11 months after construction began, the tracks to Silverton were completed and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad began hauling both passengers and freight. From the very beginning, the railroad was promoted as a scenic route for passenger service, although the line was constructed primarily to haul mine ores, both gold and silver, from the San Juan Mountains. It is estimated that over $300 million in precious metals has been transported over this route.

1882 – 1911

By 1885, the population of Silverton had grown to 1100 and Otto Mears completed the toll road to Ouray, and additional narrow gauge track out of Silverton was laid down in 1887. In 1893, 10 large mines in the Silverton district were forced to close when silver prices dropped from $1.05/oz to $.63/oz; just three years later, the Yankee Girl and Guston Mines played out. In Durango, the fire of 1889 virtually destroyed downtown and the first automobile arrived by train in 1902. By 1906, Mesa Verde was designated a National Park increasing the potential for tourism promotions.

1911 – 1938

Throughout the next twenty years the railroad faced many challenges; slides, floods, snow, war, and financial instability. When the United States entered WW I, the government assumed operation of the railroad. Shortly after resuming control of railroad operations, the D&RGW reorganized due to financial difficulties. Silverton suffered devastating effects from the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 – 10 percent of the population died in just six weeks! In addition, the Gold King Mine closed, the Sunnyside Mine temporarily ceased operations for almost ten years and the Silverton Railroad closed.

1940 – 1962

With the start of WW II, the US Government requisitioned narrow gauge equipment to use in Alaska, and the smelter in Durango reopened to process uranium for use in the war; the smelter continued to process uranium instead of silver into the late 1940′s due to the Cold War. By 1947, the Silverton branch was in danger of being abandoned; but a determined staff stepped in and helped to promote tourism, keeping the line alive. When Hollywood discovered Durango and the railroad, several movies showcasing the train were filmed in the area over the next ten years: Ticket to Tomahawk, Across the Wide Missouri, Denver & Rio Grande, Viva Zapata and Around the World in 80 Days.

1964 – 1981

During the latter part of the 1960′s, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was registered as a National Historic Landmark and was awarded as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. In 1969, the D&RGW abandoned the tracks south of Durango, isolating the line and leaving the future of the railway in question. Hollywood continued its fascination with the area and the railroad with the filming of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. As the railroad prepared to celebrate its 100th birthday, Charles E. Bradshaw, Jr. purchased the Silverton branch and with the restoration process complete, Engine #481 returned to service after 20 years in retirement.

1981 – 1988

Throughout the 1980′s, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad continued to build on the scenic tourist railroad industry. Engines and coaches began to be weatherized for winter use; a third train to Silverton was added to the schedule along with an alternative fourth train to Cascade Canyon Wye; major track reconstruction occurred as nearly ten thousand ties were replaced. Locomotives #497 and #480 were restored and returned to service, the #497 being the only K-37 to run on the line, and the innovative RailCamp was built for use in the summer. In 1985, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad purchased the Silverton Depot, returning it to service. By 1986 there were four trains running to Silverton with a fifth running to Cascade Canyon Wye!

1988 – Present

118 years later, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad continues to provide year-round train service, operating a historical train with rolling stock indigenous to the line. The locomotives used to pull today’s train remain 100% coal-fired and steam-operated; the locomotives are 1923-25 vintage and are maintained in original condition. The coaches each feature bathroom facilities and are heated during the winter months for passenger comfort, and open gondola cars provide a panoramic view of the mountains. Concessions, snacks and beverages are available on every train.