Our Train
FAQ
What makes a train ride on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad special?
Is it our 100 year old steam engine with its powerful wheels and colorful sounds? Perhaps it's our historic mountain pass with tunnels, horseshoe curves and abundant wildlife.
Maybe the variety of cars to choose from like the comfort of a classic coach, full access in the open-air observation deck, stylish lines and upper deck of the dome car, or the famous "City of New Orleans" club cars with live music acts. You might say it's the Mountain Rails Live outdoor concert series only accessible by train. And some folks say it's our friendly staff and all the people who work to make each ride memorable.
Put your Trip on Track and come find your Reason to Ride the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad today.
Biography of Fred Hargrove
Fred is a Native Kansan, and now lives near Monte Vista, Colorado. He has participated in Rodeo, for many years,as a Team Roper. Over those years he also managed several Cattle Ranching Operations. One being a partnership in the Rocking 3M Cattle Company, with Michael Martin Murphey, where they raised registered Longhorn Cattle. He also was Ranch Manager of the Double D Ranch, outside of Taos, New Mexico,managing a registered Corriente Roping Cattle program, as a member of the North American Corriente Association. Fred has also been dedicated to his own brand, the Raising H, spending a lot of time on his ranch between Douglass, and Atlanta, Kansas. Most of his more recent efforts in Kansas, and now Colorado, have been in the Beef Cattle Industry!
Through countless hours in the saddle, raising cattle and horses, and managing the land, Fred has gained the knowledge needed to write and sing his original Cowboy Songs. He has been performing on stage since 1992. He has been a member of the Western Music Association, since 1996, and has performed throughout the United States. Even two very memorable shows in Longview, Alberta. He has traveled with Michael Martin Murphey, on what they called their "Lone Cowboy Campfire Tour", which started in the summer of 2005. Fred still Books, and Opens, many shows for Murphey to this day!
Fred has been honored as, Performer of the Month, by the Book Barn, in Unionville, Missouri. His Song Lyrics for, "A Monte Vista Moon", and Bio., have been featured in a publication of the Colorado Farm Bureau, called "A Colorado Way of Life Magazine". Bureau members
all over Colorado have gotten to learn about Fred, and the Songs he writes. The same Lyrics were also featured in a very exclusive Art Exhibition, at the Denver International Airport. Fred's song, "Code of the West", was featured in an article written by, The Rocky Mountain News, located in Denver. The song generated interest, when used to instate a new document (of the same name), for Alamosa County, Colorado.
He now has four CD's available. "A Cowboy's Dream" recorded in 1996, and "Cowpoke Folk" recorded in 2006. These two albums contain all original material. The third CD, "Campfire Cowboy - Back to the Fire", completed in 2009, has five new originals, but also contains many of the cover songs that Fred has loved to sing for many years. Seventeen songs which include, traditional and contemporary Cowboy songs, a few Country tunes, and several Rodeo songs. His newest album, “My Sacred Ground”, is his best yet, and has been on four Top 20 Western Music Charts, across the country, and in England. The same album was nominated for 2010 ‘Best Traditional Western Album of the Year”, by the Western Music Association. An Honor indeed!
Fred is back in the studio working with Don Richmond, on album number five. Hopefully being as good, or better, than the last. It’s title “Watching Eagles Fly”, is about the plight of the Ranchers and Farmers, in the San Luis Valley, of South Central Colorado. The cover for this new album will be an original painting by famous Western Artist, Rick Unger, from Pagosa Springs. With the completion of this new album, in the spring of 2011, Fred shows no signs of slowing down, any time soon. One of Fred’s favorite gigs, for the last four years, has been working with the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, based in Alamosa. He MC’s and plays on their Summer Concert Series, plays Concerts on the Train, and helps book entertainment, for the best Tourist Train in Colorado.
All and all, Fred hopes to continue singing about Agriculture, Ranching, and the Western Life he lives, as long as the Good Lord allows!
Mountain Rails Live
Request For Proposals
Lodging RFP - Download
During the summer, RGSR hosts the “Rio Grande Scenic Railroad Summer Concert Festival”. This festival is located at Fir, Colorado, in a very remote part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the summit of La Veta Pass.
Because the RGSR Summer Concert Festival is accessible only by train, our performers and their associates must stay in Alamosa or La Veta and ride the train to the concerts with the guests.
