The Narrow Guage Railroad: An Unforgettable Adventure in Colorado
The Narrow Guage Railroad was constructed in 1881. The original purpose of the line was to carry silver and gold ore from the San Juans into Durango. Soon however passengers discovered that the unparalleled scenery was the most valuable part of the railroad. The railroad has been in operation every since, nearly 125 years. The trip to the small mining town of Silverton takes about three and a half hours and is worth every minute. With shear cliffs on one side and a seeming wall of rock on the other you will experience the mountians like never before.
There are several options to choose from for your trip. The Standard class gives you a choice between a vintage coach or an open-air gondola. There are three first class options that will leave you feeling pampered. These include non-alcoholic drinks and a morning and afternoon snack. There is also and attendant to answer any questions you may have. The first of these is the Parlor Class, this offers a ride in the Alamosa car. You ride in comfort in a table and chair setting and has an outdoor viewing platform. The Next is the Vista Class, this is traveling in style. It features a glass dome and on open-air gondola to give you an unparalleled view of the San Juans. There is also the Presidential Class, this puts you in the lap of luxury in a Vicorian setting. There are two diffrent seating areas to choose from and a large viewing platform for use only on this carriage.
The trip itself also holds many choices. You may take the round trip, taking the train to Silverton and back. Or you can take the train over and choose to ride a motor coach back. This gives you a whole diffrent veiw of the mountian on your way back to Durango. You can also choose to spend the night is Silverton and return the next day on the train. If hiking is your passion then you may choose to get off the train at one of the scheduled stops in the heart of the National forest and get back on when the train returns. You can also charter a coach or the entire train to travel to Cascade Canyon or to Silverton. There is a Pavilion located in the mountians next to the Animas river that can be used for catering a dinner, concerts, weddings, or a casual picnic. There are provisions for any who have special needs though this should be arranged early when you make your reservations.
Before you ride the train you can learn about the history of the train, and the area, at the two musems. One is in Durango at the station the other is in Silverton at the freight yard. The price of the musems is included in your tickets. Tickets range from 62.00 to 129.00 per person. This is a wonderful family vacation. It is an grand adventure for people of all ages. Start planning your historic vacation on the Narrow Guage Railroad today.
