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We will be using the famous and luxurious "Sierra Madre Express" passenger train set which is owned and operated by an American
company with very high standards. Our all Pullman train will be made up with the following passenger cars.
- THE DIVISADERO: Built in 1949 for the Union Pacific Railroad. There are eight staterooms, with private sink, toilet and
twin lower beds. This car also offers a unique open-air patio observation deck.
- THE ING. BALLESTEROS: Built in 1949 for the Union Pacific Railroad. This car has eight staterooms, with private sink, toilet and
and twin lower beds.
- PATAGONIA: Built circa 1940, this is a Nickel Plate Rail sleeper that was converted to an excutive car by
Via Rail Canada. It ran between Chicago, Cleveland and New York. It has seven single roomettes and six double compartments with shared toilet.
- THE TUCSON: Built in 1955 for the Union Pacific Railroad. This is a dome-dining car. Used for sightseeing and
serving of meals both in the dome section and downstairs.
- THE CHILE VERDE: Built in 1946 for the Great Northern " Empire Builder" and later purchased by the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad and has nine private roomettes for one person. Each roomette has a sink. The restroom is at
one end of this car.
- THE ARIZONA: Built in 1946 for the Northern Pacific for use on the" North Coast Limited". This is a rear end
observation car with bar and lounge. It has four double occupancy compartments with upper and lower berths with private sink and
toilet. Also it has one drawing room with private sink and toilet.
Pullman Bedroom for two persons
Pullman Roomette for one person during the day and made up at night
Join us for a spectacular charter train adventure into Mexico and the rugged Copper Canyon region of the Sierra Madre Mountains
during the cool and dry month of November. Our all Pullman train will cover what is now almost all freight only trackage since the
government allowed the passenger trains to be discontinued. Our journey will run over the old Ferrocarril del Pacifico down the west
coast of Mexico. Then we switch off to the Chihuahua Al Pacifico route heading directly into the Sierra Madre region with 87 tunnels
and 35 bridges. Both railroads have been merged into one system now called Ferromex. Enjoy one of the most dramatic train journeys
in the world and an engineering marvel.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16: (D) Independent arrivals in Tucson, Arizona. After hotel check-in at the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel near the airport we will have a "Get Acquainted" cocktail reception starting at 5:30pm where your tour escorts give you a brief run down of the tour and answers any questions you may have. After the reception we will have a "Welcome Dinner". If you are arriving in Tucson by auto the Double Tree Hotel will allow you to park your car at the hotel while on this tour.
Upon arrival in Tucson you will check-in to the Double Tree Reid Park Hotel
MONDAY NOVEMBER 17 (B-L-D) After breakfast, passengers board a charter motor coach for a tour of the old historic Tucson railroad depot and then we head south . We cross the border at Nogales and board our waiting Sierra Madre Express passenger train at the former Ferrocarril del Pacifico passegner stataion, now operated by Ferromex. Since most all public passegner trains were discontinued by the Mexican Government several years ago our train is now the only one that uses this station. Before boarding you are welcome to take as many photos of our train as you want and also photograph other Ferromex diesels and rolling stock in the yard. Once onboard passengers are welcome with a cocktail reception. After you get settled into your private pullman sleeing rooms we will serve lunch in "The Tucson" dome dinning car as our private charter train speeds southbound across the Sonora Desert. In the afternoon our train will make a stop at Benjamin Hill which is the junction for the Ferrocarril Sonora Baja California coming in from Mexicali. This is the location of the former workshops of the Baja Railroad, which are now closed. We will stage a couple of photo run-bys at this unique double platform station which has a steam locomotive on display. Chances are there will be some Ferromex diesel motive power in the yard to also photograph. We then reboard and continue our trek southbound. Before sunset we will have one more photo stop at Hermosillo which will include a photo run-by. Enjoy dinner in the dome dinning car during sunset. Then a late evening stop will be made at Empalme to change crews. If you happen to be up you are welcome to stretch your legs on the station platform. Railfans may want to have their camera ready, as there is always several strings of diesel engines waiting for the next freight train assignment parked under the night station lights...great for night photography. This station is only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean resort of Guaymas.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18 (B-L-D) Early in the morning our train will arrive at the large railroad junction of Surfrgio. This is the junction point with the Chihuahua al Pacifico line, route to the Copper Canyon. Here we again change crews, directions and diesel engines. Only four axle units are allowed on the Copper Canyon line because of the sharp curves and light rail. As a general rule our train is at the Surfrgio station for a couple of hours. This place is a railfans paradise and you are most welcome to stroll around the station platform and take all of the railroad pictures you desire. This is a busy place so watch where you walk...There are always a couple of switch engines on duty and a small two stall diesel shop is just a short walk from our train. If we are on time we will be here when the Ferromex eastbound tourist train is due. We plan to follow this tourist train eastbound out of town. Once we depart we turn northeast and head directly towards the Sierra Madre Mountains. If time permits we will stage a photo run-by before arriving at the classic open train order station of Loreto. We plan on going into the siding here to let the following local eastbound passenger train around us. This is a great opportunity to photograph two trains at this beautiful old wooden station. We want the local passenger train in front of us so that we can make some photo stops as we climb into the mountains. Soon we enter the rugged part of our journey, said to be one of the most dramatic train rides in the western hemisphere, and considered to be an engineering marvel which took almost 100 years to build. This line was finally completed in 1961with 87 tunnels and 35 bridges. By mid-day we will be approaching the famous loops at Temoris where the railroad climbs1,100 feet in just a few miles with several loops, tunnels and bridges, including one long tunnel that does a complete 180 degree turn inside the mountain to gain altitude. This is totally awesome railroading! Here at the Temoris depot we will make a photo run-by. If all trains are on schedule after our photo run-by we will then meet the westbound tourist train. We can watch it come down the mountain from the loops way above us. Then as our train starts the steep climb up the Temoris Loops at the top end we will make a short photo stop next to the classic old "Trainmaster" diesel that is now mounted on top of some gons as a monument to the final completion of the famous Chichuahua Al Pacifico Railroad. Remember, besides the dome car you can step outside on the open air car and we will also have the vestibules open so that you can view the passing spectacular scenery, remote Mexican villages, waterfalls, rivers, sheer rock cliffs towering some 4,000 feet above our train . As we travel higher into the mountains the Tarahumara Indians will greet our train at each station stop. We will arrive at Divisadero late afternoon which is at 8,000 feet and right on the rim of the fantastic Copper Canyon. We then transfer to the Hotel Posada Mirador which is built along the rim of the canyon. Once you get checked-in you can walk the many rim tails and enjoy the breathtaking views or you can step out on your private deck suspended right over the Copper Canyon and relax and enjoy the sunset in the crisp mountain air with the strong aroma of sweet pine trees. Copper Canyon is three times larger and 300 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Your view extends over 100 miles. Then join us for a reception and entertainment by the Tarahumara Indians, followed by dinner.
Above photo taken from our train looking down on the mounted "Trainmaster diesel" and the Temoris Loops
THE TEMORIS LOOPS
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One of the most important engineering projects in Mexico was the building of the Chihuahua Pacific Railway, which was inaugurated on November 24, 1961 with the purpose of promoting the Copper Canyon region and giving Chihuahua an access to the Pacific ocean. This rail route runs from Ojinaga on the Texas border to Topolobampo on the Ocean, a distance of 588 miles which includes 99 tunnels covering 133 miles and cresting the Continental Divide near Creel at 8,033 feet. At the Temoris Loops one of the tunnels makes a 180 degree curve on a 2.5% grade inside of the mountains in order to climb the cliff.
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The above two photos are taken from a eastbound train on the famous Temoris Loops. The left photo is taken on the bridge and the lower loop looking towards the upper loop. If you look closely you can see the tracks half way up the mountain and the tunnel running through the ridge. Also just above the diesel engine up on the mountain you can just barely see the foundation of the monument and the "Trainmaster" diesel engine hanging in the air over the cliff, built by the railroad employees upon completion of this route. Now, the right photo is taken out of the same train just before going into the tunnel and looking over the top ofthe "Trainmaster" and down on the lower loop.
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Here we see a westbound passenger train coming down the 2.5%
Temoris Loops deep in the Sierra Madre Mountains. You can see
both the west and east portal of the same tunnel that makes a 180
degree loop inside of the mountain.
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The above photos are taken on the unique Temoris Loops.
HOTEL POSADA BARRANCAS MIRADOR
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We will spend two spectacular nights at the Hotel Posada Barrancas Mirador which is poised like an eagle's nest at the canyon's edge near the highest point of the canyon. Each luxurious room has a private terrace where you can enjoy one of the finest views of the canyon. Decorated in a style reflecting the Tarahumara Indian culture, this hotel has a bar, lounge, restaurant and gift shop. Here you will be able to meet some of the unique Tarahumara people, who will entertain guests with their traditional dances and games. From the hotel you can wander down the many trails running along the rim of the canyon or take the path going into the canyon to visit an inhabited Tarahumaran cave dwelling located in the cliffs. The sunsets and sunrises from your room and private terrace is breathtaking.
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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: (B-L-D) Following breakfast at the hotel you will have the morning hours at your own leisure to explore the many trails running along the rim of the Copper Canyon. Also we have a railfan option in which we will take you back to the Divisadero Station to catch the line-up of mid-day trains. The schedule is such that the westbound and eastbound regular passenger trains all seem to meet here about the sametime and then sometimes a freight or two are thrown in for good measure. The end result, a railfan can sometimes catch up to 5 trains in just a couple of hours. We will have lunch back at the Hotel Mirador before the entire group returns to the train station to reboard our train for the jounrney eastbound over the Continental Divide to Creel, which is in the heart of the Tarahumara Indian Empire. Before arriving in Creel we make one photo stop and run-by in a thick pine forest next to a Tarahumara farm. Also our train will run around "El Lazo" where the tracks must make a complete 360 loop in order to gain elevation. Our arrival in Creel is planned for late afternoon. We will park our train in the siding and tie-up for the night. You will have the late afternoon to visit the town or take photos of the trains. Overnight onboard our train parked at the Creel station. Railfans, great opportunity to take some night photos of our train and the station under the lights.
RAILROAD ACTION IN AND AROUND
DIVISADERO
CAN BE VERY BUSY
BARRANCAS DEL COBRE
***COPPER CANYON OF MEXICO***
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20 (B-L-D) After breakfast you will have the option to visit the small village of Cusarare or stay in the Creel area and take photos of the trains or shop at the many local indian handiworks shops. We will depart onboard our charter train and return westbound after the westbound tourist train departs. Again, in the Divisadero area there will be a mid-day traffic jam of trains and we will allow you to detrain to photograph as many as possible. As we finally depart Divisadero and start the journey down the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains we will stop at the station of Bahuichivo where we enter the siding and tie up our train. Again, you can photogrpah our train at this very remote station and any other train traffic before we board buses for the ride to the small picturesque Indian village of Cerocahui which was founded in 1681. Here we will stay overnight at the delightful Hotel El Mision. You will have time to explore this historic village before sunset and dinner.
HOTEL MISION
Village of Cerocahui
Named in honor of an impressive 300 year old Jesuit mission in the picturesque village of Cerocahui, the Hotel Mision is located in the high fertile river valley of apple orchards and vineyards surrounded by the Sierra Madre. This lovely hotel has 42 charming rooms with wood-burning stoves. You can stroll through the lush courtyards and the adjoining vineyards which produces table wines for the hotel. Then you can warm yourself before a huge stone fireplace in the lobby, enjoy a meal in the dining room, or relax in the bar.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21: After breakfast we will take you on a tour to the upper rim of the Urique Canyon and what is considered the most impressive view in the Copper Canyon region. This is called Gallego Lookout and the Urique is one of the deepest canyons in the world. We return to the Hotel El Mision in time for lunch. After lunch and check-out we return to the Bahuichivo Staiton and reboard our waiting charter train to continue our westbound trek down the mountain on 2.5% grades. As we make our way westbound we will be meeting some trains and we will try and let you off the to take photos. In the evening we will have a grand "Farewell Dinner" onboard as our train turns north and heads back towards the Arizona border.
The above photo is taken at the spectacular Gallego Outlook
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22: (B-L) Sunrise will greet us in the Northern Sonora Desert as our train travels north towards the US border. Arrival back in Nogales will be in the afternoon. If freight traffic permits we will stage one last photo run-by before arrival in Nogales. We will transfer back to the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel for check-in with estimated arrival early evening. Please take note that because of possible late running trains and delays at the Mexican/USA border we can only estimate the arrival back in Tucson to be around 6pm.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23: (B) Enjoy a leisure breakfast at the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel before you check out and head home.
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