Our Historic Train

In 2006, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad launched its debut operating season in Alamosa, Colorado, pulling passenger cars with diesel engines on all three routes – the San Luis Express over La Veta Pass, the Toltec Gorge Limited serving Antonito and connection with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and the Potato Valley Explorer.

In early 2007, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad purchased the SP-1744 – a fully-restored, turn-of-the-century steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia for the Southern Pacific Railroad. The engine was commissioned into regular service in 1901.

In spring 2008 the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad purchased two additional engines and 5 dome cars. The LS&I-18 is a fully-restored, 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company at its Pittsburgh works in 1910. Sister LS&I-20 was acquired at the same time, and the shop forces in Alamosa plan to have it in service in 2010. The full-length dome cars were built in 1954 for the Santa Fe Railway and were used on luxury long-distance trains between Chicago, Texas, the Grand Canyon and the West Coast.

To begin the 2009 season, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad has three new cars. A newly restored Calumet Club Car for onboard concessions and gift shop purchases, a double decker silver car offers two levels for viewing the scenery and the welcome addition of an open air car lets passengers maximize the breathtaking Sangre de Cristo views and take advantage, weather-permitting, of the fresh Colorado mountain air.

Rio Grande Scenic Railroad offers a variety of seating options, which vary by route and train. The San Luis Express is powered five days a week by steam. All of our other Colorado trains are powered by diesel-electric locomotives.

People

Even more than our vintage steam engine, our breathtaking scenery and our exciting rides, passengers tell us it’s the people that make up the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad ta truly unique and memorable Colorado experience. Our staff is both knowledgeable and friendly and ready to help make sure your ride is comfortable and enjoyable – from the conductor to the engineer to the customer service staff on and off the train.

On board, our uniformed staff are always available and ready to answer your questions about our Colorado train, schedule, route and everything in between, so take a minute to stop and say hello!

Depot

The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad shares a depot with the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad (freight) at the corner of 6th and State, in the heart of historic downtown Alamosa, Colorado. Close to city parks, hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes and other attractions, passengers can enjoy shopping and dining in Alamosa just a short walk away after de-boarding the train.

Both the San Luis Express and the Toltec Gorge Limited pull back into Alamosa just in time for dinner, so don’t miss out on the great dining opportunities at more than 30 local restaurants! Many of our hoteliers in town can offer a free dome car upgrade by showing your hotel key at the depot. Look for the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad’s “Stay Another Day and Ride the Rails of History” signs at participating hotels.

Locomotives

New 1100 Locomotive!

San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad FP10A number 1100 was built as Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad F3A number 805A in 1946. 1114 was built as 811A in 1947. Both locomotives were sold to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and were extensively upgraded at Illinois Central Gulf Railroad’s Paducah Kentucky shop in 1977 and 1978. After pulling Boston bound commuter trains, both locomotives were leased to the Cape Cod Railroad in Massachusetts from 1992 until 1996. They were sold to Mid Atlantic Rail Car 1998. They both operated on the Indian Head Central Railway, a dinner train in southern Maryland. 1114 was leased to the Mirant power plant in Morgantown Maryland. In 2001. 1100 was leased to the Historic St. Mary’s Railway in Georgia in 2004. Both locomotives were rebuilt in 2009 by RELCO in Albion Iowa to incorporate extended range dynamic braking. The locomotives wear a maroon and gold paint scheme based on the original black and gold Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway FT paint scheme designed by Electro Motive Division of General Motors in the 1940s.

Steam Locomotives

The LS&I-18 is a fully-restored, 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company at its Pittsburgh works in 1910. The LS&I, or Lake Superior and Ishpeming, was a northern Michigan railroad that primarily hauled iron ore, and when they were built, the C-5 Consolidations were the most powerful locomotives on the roster.

After the LS&I converted to diesel in the 1950’s, the 18 was stored. Later, itt was sold to the Marquette and Huron Mountain tourist line, then to the Grand Canyon Railroad. In early 2007 it was sold to Fleming Locomotive Works and operated in Oregon on the Mount Hood Railroad. Rio Grande Scenic Railroad acquired the 18 in late 2007, and it will make its Colorado debut in the spring of 2008. Sister LS&I-20 was acquired at the same time, and the shop forces in Alamosa plan to have it in service in 2009.

Diesel Locomotives

SLRG-8577 and its sisters are powerful General Electric B-39-8E locomotives built in the late 1980’s. Capable of speeds up to 70 mph, they have 3,900 horsepower and are equally at home hauling freight or passengers over La Veta Pass. Prior to their current service, they hauled coal trains in Eastern Kentucky.

Train Cars

Dome Cars

These full-length dome cars were built in 1954 for the Santa Fe Railway and were used on luxury long-distance trains between Chicago, Texas, the Grand Canyon and the West Coast. In 1970 they were sold to AutoTrain which used them between Virginia and Florida on an overnight service which allowed passengers to bring their automobiles along in car carriers at the end of the passenger train. Holland-America Cruises ultimately bought them, and rebuilt them to carry cruise ship passengers between Anchorage, Denali Park and Fairbanks.

They feature seating for 66 passengers on the upper level, with a 22-seat dining area on the lower level. In 2009, these cars will be in service daily on the San Luis Express Alamosa-La Veta train, and they will also run on the La Veta-Alamosa round trip (weekdays until July 10th, and 7 days a week from July 10th to October 31st). These cars are air-conditioned and restroom-equipped. Due to the dome stairs, they are not wheelchair-accessible. Seating is open. Tickets are available now, at a modest increase from coach fare.

Open Window Cars

These cars were built in 1916 by Canadian Car and Foundry for service on the Canadian National Railroad. They were later used on trains of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Great for sightseeing, seating is lengthwise down the center of the car. These cars are open seating, and are restroom equipped.

They will run on the San Luis Express and the Potato Valley Explorer. Passengers riding these trains may choose between open window and air conditioned coaches on those trains with no difference in ticket price.

Coach Cars

These coaches were built by Pullman in the mid-1950’s for the Long Island Railroad and carried daily commuters into Manhattan from distant points such as Patchogue and Montauk.

They were sold by Long Island in the early 1990’s to Mid-Atlantic Railcar, and these cars have been operating on RGSR trains since 2006 They are air-conditioned and restroom-equipped. Seating is open. These coaches will operate on the San Luis Express and the Pototo V.

Calumet Club Car

The Calumet Club was built by Pullman in 1918 as a coach for the Illinois Central Railway. It was rebuilt in 1948 into a 40-seat lounge car, with comfortable easy chairs, and booths for playing cards for use on trains like the Panama Limited and the City of New Orleans. It was sometimes used in the middle of the train, and sometimes used as an "observation car" on the end of the train. After Amtrak took over the IC’s passenger trains in 1971, the car was sold and eventually ended up on the Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad, where it was named "Calumet Club." Its first duty in the Iowa Pacific family was on the Orlando and Mt. Dora RR in Florida. After that operation passed to new owners, it was stored in Florida until IPH moved it to Arizona for the Copper Spike Excursion train in late 2008. 2009 marks Calumet Club's debut on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad as a concession car and onboard gift shop.. The City of New Orleans club cars were made immortal in the second verse of Steve Goodman's eponymous song: "Dealing cards with the old men in the club car, penny a point there ain't no one keepin' score...." Enjoy this classic piece of American history!

Double Decker Cars

Also called a bilevel car, originally designed for capacity improvement and to help with length at stations. Car 3009 is a double deck coach built for the Long Island Rail Road by Tokyu Car Co. in 1991. It was one of 5 prototype cars built at that time. It is unusual in that it has two car bodies attached with a permanent coupling called a drawbar. On the Long Island, it was actually considered two cars, but new rules will not allow that anymore. This car will hold 371 people! It was sold to a private owner in 2000, and ran on our West Texas and Lubbock Railway before coming to Colorado this year. It features big windows and is the newest car in our fleet. These cars will be departing from La Veta and offer great height advantage in viewing the scenery