We took the train ride today from Durango -Silverton. We were in the train car with the open air, today was a perfect day for it. Our attendant, was named Liam he was awesome he was knowledgeable, engaging, full of information, he made the train ride fun. Would definitely recommend. Taking the train ride. read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

We enjoyed the bus up / train back. Would definitely take that option again as 3.5 hours on a train was plenty. Beautiful views both ways. Coach was fine. Silverton exceeded expectations with lots of cute gift shops with nice items (not just generic dime store crap). Lots of places to eat as well. Don't miss checking out Blair Street with the Shady Lady among other historic shady activities. Ha! 5 stars. Would train again. read more

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We rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Cascade Canyon and chose the Alamosa Parlor Car, the last car on the train with private service. It's definitely more expensive, but you're paying for a premium experience: the best unobstructed views, attentive service, and nice extras like a souvenir cup, a bag, and a muffin to start the trip. Our server, Liam, absolutely made the experience, funny, engaging, and on top of everything the entire ride. Drinks are about $10 each, which felt reasonable given the setting and service. That said, the experience wasn't perfect. Our train was scheduled to leave at 9:15 AM but didn't depart until 10:30 due to brake issues. As a result, our time at Cascade Canyon was cut significantly, We only had about 30 minutes instead of the full experience. We were given a $10 drink credit, which was appreciated, but it didn't quite make up for the lost time. Even with that hiccup, the scenery was breathtaking and the overall experience was still memorable. A tip: if you book the Alamosa car, go for the two-seater tables (we were at 19 & 20). The four-seaters feel cramped and take away from the experience. Silverton trips don't start until May 2, but I imagine that route would be incredible as well. Overall, despite the delay, we had a fantastic time and would still recommend it, just hoping your trip runs on schedule! read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

I'm not sure what the four stars are about for a lot of people. For me, it was one of the most EPIC experiences of my life. The beauty is totally surreal. I felt like I was constantly looking at a painting. It was awe-inspiring. You can open up the window next to your seat and I really encourage you to do so to get the best views and video on your phone. If you go in winter, wear LAYERS, think big coat, sweater, beanie, gloves. You will spend an hour outside. The train is heated but not super warm because as I said, people open their windows. There is a train car that is open air so you can also go there during the ride to get even better views if you want though it does get crowded. We chose a COACH seat because it was half the price, but I do think in the future that I would like to try first class. The seats in coach are pretty small. It's like a bench seat so two people can fit in them, but you're going to need to sit next to someone that you wanna cozy up next to. In first class, you sit in a dining chair that is padded, but then has a wooden back and you're at a table. There is a concession car, but you can also BRING your own food, your own snacks, and your own drinks, which is great. When you arrive in Cascade, you get an hour to walk next to the river and view the mountains there. It's not a town so there's literally just picnic tables and the river and the views. But I found that spot to be really gorgeous. The river is like a blue green sort of turquoise color and it's so beautiful and peaceful to view. Right when everyone gets off the train, everybody will be taking videos and pictures. I encourage you to WAIT about 30 minutes after everyone else has gotten what they want to take pictures of. And then take your videos and pictures when no one else is doing it. THE TRIP: You go from seeing the town of Durango to a gorgeous lake on your right if you're on the right side of the train when it's facing forward to the mountains on either side of you to the river all along the train. I was sitting on the right side if the train is facing forward, and I found that to be the BEST SIDE because even though you get to do the other side on the way back, you get the best views of everything on the way up. There is this one place where the train has just a drop off and the river below it (the most iconic part of the ride) and you get the best views of that if you're on the right side going up. read more

Riding this train has been on my bucket list most of my life but the stars never aligned just right when I was in Durango. I must say it didn't disappoint me one little bit. Bobbie and I had planned a trip to the 5 National Parks in Utah and extending it a couple days to finally get to ride the train seemed the right thing to do. The ride is long up and back with a bit over 2 hours in Silverton to eat and shop but OMG the views are absolutely amazing. We got tickets in one of the parlor cars and totally enjoyed every mile. Fortunately our car wasn't full so we both had a "double" seat to ourselves, which was a good thing as the seats say they are for 2 people but they are tight for 2. Would I ride the train again? As we pulled into the yard at 6:15 I asked Bobbie if we could stay another night and do it again the next day. read more

If you have the time while you're down in Durango, I highly recommend riding first class on the Durango to Silverton railway. Seated at your own four-top table, attendants will bring you food and drink while you view some stunning CO scenery. We rode in the winter so we stopped at Cascade, but having lunch out in the middle of the mountains like they did 150 years ago was really reminiscent of the ruggedness of the Rocky Mountains and its people. In fact, the engine we had on this trip had been restored after tipping into the river over 100 years ago. One item to note is that the train is fairly wobbly and bumpy and is somewhat an endurance effort. This is a real special treat and tickets are not cheap, but well worth it in my opinion. read more

This review is long overdue! We were in Durango in early June and we enjoyed every minute of the ride, the weather couldn't have been any better in Durango, Silverton is higher at over 9K feet or about 3000 feet higher than Durango. It was a bit chilly but we were prepared and our car was covered so we had no need to buy the 50 dollar souveblankets The Customer Service at the Durango Station is amazing and I bet is just like it was years and years ago, we purchased 2 parking passes and once we got there we figured we wouldn't need the one for the RV because we were going to ride the Trolley so the day before we were in the area and I thought to myself if I ask for a refund I might get lucky, lo and behold the lady at the window understood and gave us a refund, no questions asked The ride was amazing and our attendant was a sweet lady that didn't stop talking giving us a complete description of the railroad and the important historical elements along the years. We rode Yankee Girl, covered car with all the conveniences, no food needed since we were going to have lunch in Silverton It is an all day experience and well worth the price read more

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Absolutely wonderful experience. Jessie was our hostess on the Silver Vista and we couldn't have asked for a better person to educate us. The amount of knowledge and personality she had was fantastic as she answered and shared many stories about the San Juan National Forest and how Shaun White may or may not have saved Silverton. I downloaded Yelp just to give her this review because she was that great. Shout out to our Conductor as well, great food recommendations and outstanding at his profession! read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - My son enjoying the view of the steam engine and mountains - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

Amazing views and experience! Nevada was very knowledgeable and friendly! Silverton car is the way to go!! read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

We've been on three railroads this trip, and I think, this is the best we've had (as far as scenery), comfort, and restroom. I was able to lift open the window. The cushions were comfortable (for me), but one lady was complaining about her back, already, she had surgery . . . that's her review, this is mine and I'm sticking to it. Sure, the windows with glass are narrow, and the people on another car were open and fresh air but they're more in the sun, too. So you can't have it both ways. The whistle is a bit loud, I wore ear plugs (provided by our hotel), most of the time. I have sensitive ears. I'd like to come back, just to experience it with the grandchildren. read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

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This was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it if you are visiting the area. The views are absolutely breathtaking, and the entire trip is about five hours. They have a concession stand that was very popular, especially for the popcorn, but you are also allowed to bring your own food. When booking, I recommend sitting on the right side so you get the views first as you head into the mountains. Dress warm if it is cold outside because people will open the windows to get great photos. Overall, this was an epic experience and something everyone should experience at least once. read more

This was such a cute and scenic train ride from Durango to Silverton! We chose the steam engine open-air cabins to really soak in the breathtaking views -- highly recommend! Just a heads-up: dress for all kinds of weather. It got so cold after a few hours, even in the sun. We grabbed the $12 unlimited souvenir cup for hot cocoa, and it was absolutely worth it. Perfect for staying warm and sipping along the ride. The full train ride is about 3.5 hours each way. It was super fun the first time through, but the return trip left us exhausted. If we were to do it again, we'd take the train up (make sure to sit on the right side for the best views!) and maybe take the bus back down to rest a bit. Definitely a must-do if you're in the area -- just plan ahead and dress in layers read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

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This is a 19th century narrow gauge railroad, traveling between SilvertonDurango in the San Juan National Forest, alongside of Animas River, a 126-mile-long (203 km) creek/river in the west, a tributary of the San Juan River, part of the Colorado River System. The D&SNG was founded by Charles E. Bradshaw Jr. (1930-2013), of Florida, owned by AHR (American Heritage Railways) since 1998. The 40+ miles long rail takes nearly 4 hour to cho cho. For context, 50 mile record: Charlie Lawrence set run record at 4:48:21 in 2019; and Marcin Bialoblocki set bike time at 1:30 in 2018. Granted, this isn't about speed but for nostalgia. The slow mo has enclosed compartments which is where we're, and gondola, without windows, side seating. There is a bar toward the end, and at least a bathroom is in the front of the train, spacious and clean. The five-man staff on board consists an elder conductor who has been on the job, on this line for 29 years; a driver, an engineer and two brakemen. A few more at the concession selling drinks and snacks. Ryan is the new kid on the block, who begins his job today (May 22, 2025) as brakeman. He has been in training for the past three weeks. Growing up around railroads, he feels this would be a good fit. "The owner happens to be in Silverton today to see him off ..." what a welcoming gesture and wonderful start. Best of luck kid! Population wise, Durango has 19k and Silverton 622. The ride is mostly for the tourists, if not entirely. The train runs year around. The winter doesn't do much damage, except rarely the snow block the switches. If an engine breaks down, all they have to do is to get a new one from the near by station: not a big deal. The scenery is beautiful, at times, can be a little hairy: cliffs, and trees & rocks are at arm length. Although both sides of the train are good but I feel the left for south bound train has better views. The aqua green water color is from sediment composition: The San Juan River, which flows through parts of the San Juan National Forest, travels through sedimentary rock like sandstone, siltstone, and shale. These can be easily eroded, and the fine particles released into the water can influence its color. Sunlight reflection may adds to the vivid color as well. Two hours into the ride at Tacoma Flagstop, the train stopped to pick up six youngster who were white water rafting near by. They just waved, like hailing a taxi, pay the fare and sit in the dinning car. The tour manager bought us a drink ... after an hour, everyone seems to have enough. I love train but yes, 4 hours is bit too long. Left Silverton at 2:38, and pulling into Durango station at 6:41pm - finally, we arrived. read more

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Very easy to make reservations online and the parking lot (which is about a block away from the depot)is very easy to find by following the directions you are given when reserving online. When you get to the depot there is a very nice gift shop with much to choose from. Also there is a small snack bar and restrooms at the depot before you board the train. On our train we had our attendant Maria leading our tour. Maria was a wealth of knowledge about the area as well as about the train and what the different jobs on the train were and what the persons responsibilities were. Maria also assumes the role of amateur comedian on the trip. If you get a chance to be on her train you will definitely enjoy the trip. The entire crew was very professional and did their best to make all the guests enjoy the trip. read more

Fantastic one of a kind experience! Amber was our hostess in Yankee Girl car. She was a great commentator of the local sites seen during our trip and was very attentive to everyone's needs. The views are amazing and it was a great way to spend a day in Durango. Don't miss the museum! Really cool and free! read more

You know, today was a wild day here. I guess there was a landslide or rocks that landed on the tracks closer to Silverton. So, our trip ended early. According to the staff, this is a very very rare situation. So we turned around, but we still had one Hell of a scenic trip. I think we were about 2.5 hours in. Many people were complaining and what not. I wasn't. Stuff happens. The views that I got to experience were outright amazing. The staff I got to deal with were friendly as could be. Couldn't enjoy the museum when we got back.... Which sucked so bad.... But, it wasn't their fault. Whole towns power went out. No backup generators on site. Honestly, it was okay overall despite these weird things happening. Parking is paid, just to the west of McDonald's. The one staff member in charge of parking was the only unfriendly person we encountered with today. I guess cash isn't accepted. Regardless, I'd recommend this place. Maybe one day I'll come back. read more

We did the Durango to Cascade Canyon ride on Sun 2/22 and it was worth every penny! We were lucky in that it had just snowed in Durango a couple days before, so the entire ride was just beautiful, all fresh snow. We were able to take our own lunch onto the train, which was great. My only complaint is that the coach seats were SUPER tight - we somehow landed in what I think was the tightest row and my 6'5" husband literally had to put his knees out in the aisle. Kind of wished we'd sprung for first class but it's pretty pricey. Great day though! read more

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This is an amazing trip. It starts in a cute little town "Silverton". Lots of restaurants and shops. The 4 hour trip will give you some amazing mountain and river views. You end in Durango which has a lot of options for just about anything read more

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Took the train yesterday from Durango to Silverton and back. It's easy to make reservations online, and everyone is very friendly. We ended up on the first row on the right side, which was great because we had extra legroom. The bathrooms on the train were actually better than you'd expect, and concessions were also more reasonably priced than you'd expect as well. 3.5 hours each way plus 2 hours in Silverton. We could've used more time there, but that's not the train's fault. I think we'll attempt to drive up one day this week. This was a lot of fun, and I'd definitely recommend it for any train enthusiast or anyone who just wants to spend a day looking at some of the beauty Colorado has to offer. read more

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This is a great all day train ride. It's about 9 1/2 hours long. We were in a private car which was nice because we had our own private hostess named Nevada. I believe there were 15 tables in our car. She told us ghost stories, facts and history about the train and railroad, things of interest along the way. She was funny and energetic. She always had a smile and something fun to say. The layover in Silverton was about 2 hours and that is plenty of time to see what the town has to offer. It's super tiny. Mostly restaurants, ice cream shops and gift shops. It's cute but tiny. It's a must do if you're looking for something to do with the family. read more

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BUCKET LIST ! Our train ride was really fun. We rode in the Yankee girl car. We sat at a table of four and met two couples and had lots of conversation all the way up and back. The ride itself was very informative due to the train attendant/ teacher who also taught school. He knew so much about the history of the train and the mountain along the way! The ride itself is what you expect a train to be , bumpy in some areas and smooth in others ... real train ride! The train car , the Yankee girl was very authentic and Victorian themed. There is a bathroom on board and also free drinks , such as water, soda, etc., and libations to purchase . The train attendant was very attentive to everyone's needs. It's about a 3 1/2 hour one-way trip and very beautiful the time of year that we went, which was late July.! Loved it ! read more

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There's just something magical about stepping onto this historic train and feeling like you're about to time travel through the wild, rugged heart of Colorado. This was our third time riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and somehow, it still managed to blow us away. We treated ourselves to the adults-only club car and honestly? Best decision ever. Comfy seating, panoramic windows, and a back platform that lets you stand outside while the train winds its way along the cliffs and riverbanks. It's the kind of experience that sticks with you--mountains rising all around, the Animas River rushing below, and views that had us saying "just look at that" every five minutes. Our guide, Ellie, made the trip even better. She was smart, funny, and had the kind of storytelling style that makes history come alive. She even gave us great tips for what to do once we got to Silverton, which was super helpful. You get a little over two hours to explore Silverton before heading back, and we made the most of it--our friends hiked up to the Christ of the Mines Shrine (steep, but totally worth it for the view), and we wandered through shops and picked up some handmade souvenirs. It's a quirky little town with a ton of character. The full trip is a commitment--about 7 hours round-trip, plus the time you spend during the layover in Silverton--but it never feels long. Between the scenery, the stories, and the fresh mountain air, time kind of melts away. If you're even thinking about going, do it. And if you can, splurge on the club car. That back deck alone is worth the upgrade. Already dreaming about ride number four... read more

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What a beautiful ride both up to silverton in a bus and back by train. Super nice people and this is a memory i won't soon forget. read more

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We loved our experience on the train. We booked the Alamosa Car with Maria. She was the most gracious host. So friendly and informative. The weather was great for the trip on thursday! read more

First time on the DSNGR. I will first mention that my husband and I stopped in Silverton the day before we took this train ride. My husband and I were staying in Durango and took a day trip to Ouray to drive the Million Dollar Highway. We stopped in Silverton to check out places to eat for the 2-hour lunch break that the DSNGR gives you during this train ride. The Durango to Silverton train ride is a 3 1/2 hours (7 hours if you purchase the roundtrip package) long, slow and yet scenic ride aboard a steam engine or diesel engine train. My husband bought round-trip tickets for the steam engine train. These trips usually sell-out well in advance and we ended up in an open "gondola" car. The day of our trip, it was 45 degrees and we had a departure time of 8:15am. I strongly recommend wearing layers if you book this train ride between October thru April. My husband, who is usually well-prepared for our excursions, was not as well-prepared as he thought he was. He froze his @$$ off halfway through the trip until the sun came out to warm him up a bit. I layered well on top, but not as well for my bottoms, but I was still way more warmer than my husband, whom I felt bad for. This train ride (as I mentioned earlier) is long and slow. The train's top speed is 18mph. It is a 48.5 mile trip. It took us 1 1/2 hrs by car to get to Silverton from Durango. The train basically follows the Animas River and does, indeed, provide beautiful scenery and we took this trip to see the fall colors. We saw deer, old buildings from the mining days of the late 1800's, beautiful fall foliage and the river's own natural beauty. It's a much different view from the train vs the views from the car, both from which can both be appreciated. My only complaint, is that it makes for a very long day and at times, was painfully slow. When you arrive in Silverton, you have two hours to grab lunch. And believe me ... 2 hours is all you need. My husband and I grabbed lunch at the Lacey Rose Saloon. They had great food and adult libations. They also have a kids menu. Some of the restaurants in town shut down beginning in October for the Fall/Winter season. The town of Silverton is REALLY small. So make sure you grab a bite to eat while in town. There is a restaurant that serves bbq on the main drag, Golden Block Brewery, High Noon Hamburgers and Natalia's 1912 Restaurant just to name a few. The train leaves at 2p ON THE DOT! So don't be late getting back from your 2-hour break! Wrapping things up, our seats on the gondola of the train were bench seats and not the most comfortable. The bench seats face outward and you'll have an opportunity to see what the other guests saw (facing the other way) on the way back. Seats are assigned. Other cars on the train had seats that were forward facing and enclosed. Bathrooms are very small. And there is a car that sells concession items, mostly snack-type items, water, sodas, and alcholic beverages. There is an option to ride the train one way and take a luxury bus back to Durango. We would've done this, but it was already sold out. Pictures to be added later. read more

This was a bucket list item for me, and it didn't disappoint. I took the coach up and the train back, which I recommend for a little bit shorter day and a change of scenery. Such a beautiful trip! Silverton is a cute town, but I could've stayed there for a little less time. On the train, I was in the very back which I enjoyed because you can step out of the car for great view. There is also a full bar in that car. The host in our car gave a lot of color commentary which I appreciated. It was a great day! read more

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The Train is a "must do" when anywhere Durango. The views are spectacular and the daylong (9 hour) trip is worth considering. We preferred the steam engine which gave the trip that old time feel. The railroad has been bought and sold several times since I last visited. This time there are serious signs of mismanagement and neglect. I say that because I experienced several troubling things on a recent trip in which I paid for the premium VIP over 21 train car, the Yankee Girl. I recommend you do not select this car. When I spend $200+ on a ticket, I expect a working functional and comfortable train ride. - Safety. Our steward, or train car attendant, Maria, wore a sweatshirt and looked like most other passengers on the train. Had there been an accident or emergency, no one would have recognized her as a train employee, who should be charged with the safety and well being of passengers. A train uniform would help. When asked, she stated, it was cold on the train and she preferred the sweatshirt. I know why, read the next paragraph.. - Comfort. On the Yankee Girl train car, the front door opened every time we hit a bump, which was about every 30 seconds. It's really cold on October mornings. Everyone was very cold - it was not clear that there was any heating, but it would not have helped with the wind whipping through the car. I asked Maria before lunch to have maintenance fix the latch on the door during our 2 hour lunch break. She dismissed my request. When I questioned her on the return trip she said, nothing had been done and there was no maintenance personnel in Silverton to do anything about it anyway. On the return trip it started to rain ...and the roof leaked...a lot. Several passengers held anything they could to keep from getting drenched. Now we were not only cold with the open door, we were also wet and that equates to miserable. read more

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This is the most beautiful train ride I've ever experienced. The staff were amazing. And the scenery was breathtaking. read more

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This is a really beautiful ride. However, be mindful of the weather. It is brutal coming back on hot clear days. The sun is beating on you through the windows for over two hours. If you go in June, take the bus back. I did this with my husband and three young kids. I thought I may pass out coming back as the sun was beating on me for hours in 90 degree temperatures. The trains max speed is 22mph. It was awful. When I was a teenager and I took this trip. It was likely July. We hit storms, so it was no bad as cloud cover kept out the sun's rays. Therefore, I didn't realize the issue with the sun. The right side of the train hits the sun going up and coming down in June. read more

Fantastic winter outing half way up and back. Upgrading to the Alamosa parlor car was well worth it. Our attendant was very friendly and knowledgeable. Will go again in summer all the way to Silverton. My first time ride was 1967, time flies! read more

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We had a great ride today up to Cascade Canyon (trip to Silverton doesn't open until next week). Liam, our train conductor was an awesome host as well as bartender and storyteller! He even sang a great song for us! Definitely a must do if you are in the Durango area! Only criticism is for the website...availability of food was contradictory, so we took a kind of cheesy box lunch option. Turned out there was other fare available, not to mention the delicious muffin and unlimited nonalcoholic drinks available from Liam. Double check all the links on the website.... read more

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The Durango & Silverton National Railway is a great activity for all ages and a wonderful family outing. You can call the station for departure times. The day I was there it was the time of year that the leaves change color, so they were running 3 steam trains a day from Silverton and 3 a day from Durango. There is a small gift shop in the depot with train items for sale. Hope you enjoy your ride! read more

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This is a trip that is worth repeating. I took my Mom on a getaway and we had such a great time and took amazing photos. The scenery is beyond superlatives. There's great eats and shopping. It's a weekend or more away to completely recharge and reset. read more

this weekend was a dream but our favorite thing was riding the Durango & Silverton train, Jessie our hostess in the red mountain car was the best! She made our son's fifth birthday super special! We will definitely be coming back! The drinks are yummy and the pulled pork sandwich in the concession's car was awesome! read more

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Get the best view of Durango and Silverton with this train with open air or enclosed spaces.

This train ride is amazing and full of breathtaking views. The train cars are well maintained and the train conductor and break-men and welcoming and nice. If the weather was nice I would strongly recommend the open car option because the views are much more enjoyable there. This is a must if you enjoy epic views of the Rocky Mountains or love trains. Plus the 2 hours you get to experience Silverton is a great time! I will be doing again in the future and will be recommending it to all of my friends and family!! I can't say enough great things about this train ride that is an awesome experience for everyone of all ages! read more

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I just didn't enjoy this experience. I'm tall so the seats are really uncomfortable in the gondola and in coach. First class would have been 800.00 plus tax for our family of 4. It was over 7 hours and I was in pain most of the time. That being said, the views were great. The employees were friendly, the all you can drink cup was awesome. read more

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Great scenery - Trains Near Me - Durango, Colorado

What a fun experience from Durando to Silverton, CO. I wish there was better transportation and a longer stay at Silverado to visit the museums and have time to eat. Besides that, it was a fun expo and would recommend to my friends and family. I also recommend their concessions. read more

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We rode the railway to Cascade and back and it was a wonderful trip. We upgraded to a 1st class ticket and had little tables where we could put our drinks down or play games. Our car had its own train employee who gave us drinks, told great stories about local history, and gave us great recommendations for restaurants. read more

Such a fun ride and lunch! The workers were fun and hilarious telling jokes, riddles, and talking to us about things we both enjoy! Lunch was amazing with an amazing view of the river which was fun to play in! Such a great time! Definitely would recommend!!! read more