Our Vintage Private Railcars

Our 'train within a train' will consist of Colonial Crafts, a former Pennsylvania sleeper-lounge; Silver Rapids, a roomette bedroom sleeper from the California Zephyr; Silver Lariat, a vista-dome diner lounge, also from the California Zephyr; and Silver Solarium, a vista-dome sleeper-lounge-observation car from the California Zephyr. All guests will have sleeping car accommodations, and meals aboard the train will be prepared fresh by our chefs in our kitchen, and served on fine monogram china on California Zephyr table linens. Accommodations aboard the train include roomettes, each sleeping 1 person; bedrooms, accommodating 2 people, and drawing rooms, accommodating up to 3 people. Each sleeper is equipped with one or more guest showers. Our combination of cars provides an exceptional amount of public space, and our professional staff will see to it that your on-board experience is an outstanding one.

Sunday December 14: (D) Private railcars will be on the rear of Amtrak train #4, the Southwest Chief. Guests may board at Los Angeles Union Station, Fullerton, Riverside, or San Bernardino. Departure time from Los Angeles is 6:45 PM. We'll have a gala Welcome Aboard cocktail party, followed by dinner, as we make our way out of the basin and across the desert. Bars in Colonial Crafts and Silver Solarium will be open until midnight to accommodate revelers.

Monday December 15: (B-L) As the sun rises, we are speeding across the northern Arizona plateau, through Flagstaff, Winslow, and the Painted Desert, on our way to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. A buffet breakfast will be available from 7-9. We'll have about 40 minutes to stretch our legs in Albuquerque, and inspect the jewelry and other wares being sold by native American artists on the station platform. Luncheon will be served upon our departure from Albuquerque. At Lamy, approximately one hour past Albuquerque, our cars will be removed from the Southwest Chief and taken into downtown Santa Fe. Arrival in Santa Fe will be about 3:30 PM. We'll transfer your luggage to La Fonda Hotel for your next 4 nights stay. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. La Fonda is right on the Old Plaza, which will be festively decorated with thouhsands of lights in the trees.

Tuesday December 16: (D) Today is a leisurely day. We'll do a late morning city tour and a tour of a bronze foundry where some of the area's exquisite statues are made. We'll also take a city tour stopping to visit the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and have a festive holiday meal at one of Santa Fe's many fine restaurants. After dinner comes a tour of the city's lights.

Wednesday December 17: (L-D) Mid-morning sees us heading to Chimayo, where we'll briefly visit the old Spanish Community, then enjoy lunch before heading on to Taos. In Taos we'll tour the Pueblo, continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Perhaps a stroll around the Taos Plaza, then dinner and return to our hotel in Santa Fe.

Thursday December 18: (L-D) Enjoy a 'morning off' to explore Santa Fe. Perhaps a last stroll on Canyon Dr, to pick up that artwork you saw earlier? After check-out, luggage will be transferred back to the train in preparation for our 12:30 PM departure from the station. Luncheon will be served upon departure. Our cars will be added to the Southwest Chief about 2:25 PM. Enjoy hors d'Oeuvres and cocktails in the lounges as our train speeds west into the setting sun through green sagebrush country accented with high red mesas. We'll have a special last night out dinner then bars will remain open until midnight for the night-owls.

Friday December 19: (B) Enjoy the ride down Cajon Pass into the LA basin, and relax with a cup of coffee while watching commuters battle the freeways on their way to work. Breakfast will be available from 6 until 8 AM. Scheduled arrival in Los Angeles is 8:20 AM, where our adventure ends in the same place it began 6 days ago.