Signature Events

Ride With Us and See Them All!

Our favorite part about being located in Durango, Colorado is soaking in the beauty of each season! Our train operates throughout the entire year offering visitors a unique chance to get an unfiltered look at the change of seasons both in town and deep in the rugged San Juan mountains. Frequent riders enjoy the transition from snow-capped mountains, to wildflower bloom, to the changing colors of aspen groves in the mountains.

Our event programming is designed to embrace the best of each season, giving you a special way to experience the outdoors whenever you decide to visit. Browse through our full event calendar below to learn more about our unique seasonal experiences.

Cowboy Poetry Train

Gather up your favorite cowboys and cowgirls to enjoy true western poets, entertainment and food when you ride this special train to Cascade Canyon. Hear poems and songs that will bring tears to your eyes and keep you in stitches. The Cowboy Poetry Train is a part of The Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering held annually in the Fall.

Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #5 Excursions

Narrow Gauge Day

A yearly event hosted by the railroad to celebrate the community and to welcome the Silverton Season. The community is invited to join us for free hot dogs on the lawn, and to enjoy music from the Bar-D Wranglers. Opportunity to walk through our Presidential Special train.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

First told in the award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg, the story of a child’s Christmas Eve journey, adapted to the big screen in 2003, now comes alive every year with THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride! All ages can enjoy the experience, warmth and fun of the Christmas season on a special steam train trip to the North Pole!

K-28 100th Anniversary Fall Photography Special

Unlike the regular excursion trains, Photographer Special Trains allow you to de-board at 6 pre-determined locations both northbound and southbound along the route to experience the pure majesty of a late autumn landscape in the San Juan Mountains.

Romance on the Rails

Celebrate Valentine’s Day as you experience turn-of-the-century ambiance with your loved one onboard a historic, steam-powered narrow gauge train as we travel along the Animas River. Enjoy a beautiful day riding the vintage train through the pristine wilderness to Cascade Canyon.

Winter Photo Special 2023

This will be a Durango & Silverton excursion powered by Locomotive #493 with multiple run-by opportunities on both the northbound and southbound legs of the journey. The consist will include ADA/213, Concession, Prospector, Yankee Girl, Knight Sky, and Alamosa. Passengers will deboard at predetermined locations along the route for run-bys of the train.

Shamrock Express

Time to get your Irish on! Come join us on the Shamrock Express Train bound for Cascade Canyon deep in the San Juan National Forest!

Snowdown Balloon Rally Train

Snowdown Balloon Rally Train for an up-close view of the Snowdown Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascension! The train will stop in the Animas Valley for the colorful hot-air balloon mass ascension, offering passengers the chance to view the mass ascension from the comfort of heated train coaches. If they choose, passengers can also get off the train for 15-20 minutes to get a better view of the balloons.

Wine & Rails

This is one wine tasting you won’t soon forget. Our Wine & Rails event features a list of rotating wineries that offer wine tastings from their respective wineries while aboard our train! Guests are invited to socialize, tour the featured vintners, and enjoy a prepared buffet during the scenic excursion to Cascade Canyon.