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THIS TOUR WILL CATER TO THE TOURIST THAT ENJOY PLENTY OF SPECTACULAR SIGHTSEEING LINKED BY SOME OF THE SOME POPULAR TRAIN RIDES IN THE WEST. ALSO BECAUSE WE WILL
VISIT AND RIDE SO MANY DIFFERENT RAILROADS, PLUS SOME RAILROAD MUSEUMS AND WORK- SHOPS AND COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THESE TRAINS THIS TOUR IS
WELL SUITED FOR THE RAILFAN WHO MIGHT EVEN WANT TO BRING HIS WIFE OR FAMILY.
Join us for a grand railroad and motorcoach tour that includes some of the most awesome scenery and train rides in the western states of
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Our tour begins and ends in Denver, Colorado. These are the four corner states that have the
Largest number of national parks, breathing scenery and spectacular train rides all during the colorful fall colors. In fact we will make a
brief stop at the Four Corners Monument and you can stand in all four states at one time. This the only place in the United States where
you can do this. Our tour will present to you 13 train rides using steam-diesel-railcars in all four states and we will explore 7 national
parks and 14 monuments. There is so much to see and do in these four states and we have tried to put as much into this 17 day tour as
possible. Take a look at our itinerary and the photos , as we think you will agree, this is a great tour.
DAY 1 SATURDAY OCTOBER 1: Independent arrivals in Denver and hotel check-in. Balance of the day at your own leisure to explore towndown Denver or relax.
DAY 2 SUN OCTOBER 2: (B-D) In the morning we pay a visit to the vast Colorado Railroad Museum located in nearby Golden. This is the most extensive railroad museum in Colorado and has many fine pieces of railroad history and displays and a great railroad book store. After our visit we travel south to Colorado Springs and visit the Pike's Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation, Inc which has an collecting of fine American
street cars. Before sunset we will then go to see the famous "Garden of the Gods" rock formation and then hotel check-in. In the evening we will host our "Welcome to Colorado Dinner"
THE COLORADO RAILWAY MUSEUM AT GOLDEN
GARDEN OF THE GODS
DAY 3 MONDAY OCTOBER 3: (B) We board the morning train on the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway
for the steep 3 ¼ hour climb to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,110 feet. This is the highest cog railway in the
World. If it is a clear day you can see all of Eastern Colorado, Central Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Wyoming. It is a view you will never forget. You will have 40 minutes at the
Summit to take Photos, explore the summit and have a snack and hot drink at the café before we start down the
mountain. Once back at the base station w e board our charter motorcoach for the drive to the Royal Gorge and
Canon City. First we will go up to the spectacular Royal Gorge Bridge, which is the world's highest suspension
bridge at 1,053 feet above the rushing Arkansas River. You can walk out on this bridge and we plan to have you
here when the Royal Gorge excursion trains runs through the gorge over 1000 feet below you. Hotel check-in
in Canon City.
MANITOU AND PIKES PEAK COG RAILWAY
DAY 4 TUESDAY OCTOBER 4: (B) Ride on the Royal Gorge Railroad for the 24 mile roundtrip through the spectacular gorge. By time we return to
Canon City we will turn you loose to explore the town and get some lunch before we depart by motorcoach for Alamosa which is where the Rio Grande
standard gauge system connected to the narrow gauge system. We then continue on to Antonito for hotel Check-in We plan to arrive in town before the
narrow gauge steam train from Chama arrives, so that you will be able to take some photos if you choose. Our motel is next to the train station.
THE ROYAL GORGE RAILROAD
DAY 5 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5: (L) You are welco me to take photos of the crew getting our steam locomotive ready to go and visit the small engine
shop. We then board the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam excursion train for the spectacular 64 mile journey up into the massive Rockies on the border
of Colorado and New Mexico, running along the rim of Toltec Gorge and over Cumbres Pass at 10,105 feet and then down into the Chama, New Mexico Valley. The entire trip will be handled by a Baldwin steam locomotive from the old Rio Grande fleet of narrow gauge engines. Upon arrival in Chama you can visit the
old steam workshops before we board our motorcoach and head west towards Durango, Colorado.
CUMBRES AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD
DAY 6 THURSDAY OCTOBER 6: (B) We spend the full day onboard the Durango & Silverton Railroad for a 90 mile roundtrip train ride onboard the
Famous Silverton steam train running through the rugged wilderness of the Animas River Canyon. In the old mining town of Silverton you will have three
hours to explore this wonderful wild west mining town and have lunch. For the railfans in our group there will be a 2nd train arriving in Silverton 45 minutes
behind our train and you may want to walk out of town to get a photo of this train coming over the river bridge. Our steam pulled train will arrive back in
Durango at 5:30PM and again for the railfans the 2nd train will arrive 45 minutes behind us.
THE DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD
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Silverton, Colorado |
DAY 7 FRIDAY OCTOBER 7: (B) On behalf of the railfans in the group we will follow the 8:15AM northbound train out of Durango for the first hour
So that you can get some great lineside action shots. We will be able to catch the train in five different locations. We then return to town and pick up the rest
Of the group at the hotel and head west for Mesa Verde National Park which has the best preserved natural Indian ruins from the Anasazi Tribe in the country.
After visiting the national park we drive on into Cortez, Colorado for lunch. Then we turn south to pay a visit to Four Corners Monument, where you can stand
In four states all at the sametime…Colorado-Utah-New Mexico-Arizona. Reboarding our motorcoahc we travel southeast to Santa Fe, New Mexico, capitol of
The state. After hotel check-in you will have the balance of the day to explore Santa Fe.
MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
DAY 8 SATURDAY OCTOBER 8: (L) We depart Santa Fe in the morning onboard the Santa Fe Southern Railroad for the run to Lamy and the Connection with the BNSF mainline. As the crew does its switching and gets ready to return to Santa Fe we bid this train farewell as the railfans in the group can take
photos. You can explore the small town of Lamy as we wait for Amtrak's westbound "Southwest Chief" which is due at 2:35PM. In fact if the eastbound
Southwest Chief just happens to be running on time it is due in Lamy at 2:16PM. Both trains are scheduled to meet in Lamy. Once we board the train you can
settle in to you coach seat or go to the lounge car for the 6 ½ train ride to Winslow, Arizona. On your journey you can have dinner in the dining car. The
train is due in Winslow at 8:56PM. Our motorcoach will follow on the highway and then transfer us to our hotel.
AMTRAK'S SOUTHWEST CHIEF
DAY 9 SUNDAY OCTOBER 9: (B) Our first attraction in Arizona is Meteor Crater and museum which is only a few miles west of Winslow. This
crater is nearly a mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and over 550 feet deep. We then continue our westward trek into the vast recreation area south
of Flagstaff and in the beautiful Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon region. This afternoon we will visit Red Rock State Park, Montezuma National Monu-
ment, Fort Verde State Park and then hotel check-in at Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon.
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Montazuma Castle |
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| Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon |
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Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon |
DAY 10 MONDAY OCTOBER 10: (B) In the morning we go visit nearby Jerome Ghost Town State Park before boarding the 1PM train on the Verde
Canyon Railroad's "Wilderness Train". We will ride from Clarkdale to Perkinsville roundtrip into what is called Arizona's other grand canyon. Verde
Canyon is only accessible by rail. Upon return to Clarkdale we go back to our hotel in Sedona and relax for the evening.
VERDE CANYON RAILROAD
DAY 11 TUESDAY OCTOBER 11: (B) Morning departure from Sedona taking the scenic route north through Oak Creek Canyon and on into Flagstaff
then turning west for the short ride to Williams. Here we board the 10AM train on the Grand Canyon Railroad for the 2 ¼ hour trip north to the South Rim
of Grand Canyon National Park. . Note: Motive power could be steam or diesel. The train departs the South Rim at 3:30PM but we have a surprise for you
Our motorcoach will drive up to the South Rim to meet the group and we will then be able to stay at the South Rim for the spectacular sunset as we make our
way slowly to the east towards the small Arizona desert town of Cameron located 28 miles outside of the National Park. The historic Cameron Trading Post
has been serving visitors to the Grand Canyon since 1916 and is now become a showplace for fine native American and Southwestern art. It will be dark
when we check-in but in the morning you can have breakfast with a view of the Little Colorado River Gorge. All rooms have been decorated in classic Southwestern style that we think you will enjoy.
THE GRAND CANYON RAILROAD AND GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
DAY 12 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12: (L) Start the day with a spectacular sunrise in the Arizona desert. We head north today to Page, location of the
of the massive Glen Canyon Dam of which we will pay a visit. The dam holds back popular Lake Powell. Next we drop down below the dam to Marble
Canyon crossing over the Colorado River and then to Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. By afternoon we will be back at the Grand Canyon, but this
Time we will be at the seldom visited North Rim. We then continue north to Kanab, Utah for lodging.
 
DAY 13 THURSDAY OCTOBER 13: (B) Early morning departure from Kanab, Utah by motorcoach for the one hour ride to Zion National Park. We
will spend a very good part of the day in Zion exploring this spectacular park. It is one breathtaking view after another and even more so in the fall colors.
By mid afternoon we need to be on our way to Bryce National Park. We want to have you at Bryce a couple of hours before sunset, as they is the most spectacular time of the day to visit. Overnight lodging in Bryce.
ZION NATIONAL PARK
RED CANYON
BRYCE NATIONAL PARK
DAY 14 FRIDAY OCTOBER 14: (D) Morning hours at your own leisure. You are welcome to return to the rim at Bryce for the morning light or sleep
In and have a relaxed breakfast. Enjoy the many nearby handiworks and rock shops or even take a swim or go into the hotel hot tub. We will depart from
The hotel right after lunch and travel in a eastern directly through the Staircase and Grand Escalante National Monuments to Torrey, Utah which is just out-
Side of Capitol Reef National Park. Hotel check-in.
ABOVE PHOTOS TAKEN IN THE STAIRCASE
& GRAND ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT REGION
DAY 15 SATURDAY OCTOBER 15: (B) Another day of breathtaking scenery is in store for to again. Perhaps by now you are wondering how
Much more of this fantastic countryside is there…Folks, it is endless and we are only showing you just a small amount of the Four Corners Region. So,
next we visit Capitol Reef National Park and then continue eastbound crossing the Colorado River and the upper region of Glen Canyon. We need to be
at what is called Grand View in Canyonlands National Park at least one hour before sunset. Yes, the sunsets are wonderful and to top if off their will be
an almost full moon in the eastern sky. We then go to nearby Moab, Utah for hotel check-in.
CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
DAY 16 SUNDAY OCTOBER 16: (B) We have one more park to visit on our tour. Some say this is the best one yet. Today we will spend most of
the day in Arches National Park. In the afternoon we will leave the park and drive along the Colorado River to Cisco where we then head for Green River,
Utah and hotel check-in.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
FISHER TOWERS & MT. PEALE
DAY 17 MONDAY OCTOBER 17: (B) We board our last train of this tour. Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr is due in Green River, Utah at
8:36AM for the journey through the heart of the Rockies and back to Denver, Colorado. Departing from Green River the train will skirt along the
mysterious Book Cliffs near Arches National Park, before entering the remote Ruby Canyon on the Colorado River. We will now follow the Colorado
River for the next 238 spectacular miles. Soon we will enter into the state of Colorado and make a stop at Grand Junction. Once we depart the train
rnters the De Beque Canyon and then Grand Valley, location of the famed Western Colorado fruit growing area and the oil shale development project
plus a number of Uranium mines. Do not forget to go to the dining car for lunch. The Zephyr's next stop is at the resort of Glenwood Springs, gateway
To the Colorado Rockies and at 12:52PM we enter the massive and rugged Glenwood Canyon with it's towering rock cliffs reaching thousands of feet
Above the train. As the train swings north onto the Dotsero Cutoff we enter Red Canyon with strange rock formation that look like Buddhist Temples.
Next is the narrow Gore Canyon and then Granby at 4:00PM, gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. All too soon we enter into the 6.2 mile
long Moffat Tunnel which will take us under the lofty crest of James Peak and the Continental Divide. When we come out of the tunnel the train will
be on the east slope of the Rockies and heading down towards Denver. You might want to get some dinner in the dining car as the train now must run
through 28 tunnels and above the rugged South Boulder Canyon to reach Plainview. Now you will be able to see the lights of Denver far below. On
a clear evening you can see into Kansas. The train arrives in Denver at 7:18PM.
AMTRAK'S CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR
DAY 18 TUESDAY OCTOBER 18: Our tour now must come to an end. We have tried to present to you some of the best train rides, scenery and
points of interest in the four corner states of Colorado-New Mexico-Arizona-Utah. If you would like to continue the adventure we invite you to join
Us onboard our five private railroad cars that will be coupled onto the rear of Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr departing this morning at 8:20AM
For the journey across Colorado-Utah-Nevada-California and arriving in the Oakland area at 5:09PM on October 19.
PRICE................................$3795
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...............$ 795
DEPOSIT..............................$ 950
FINAL PAYMENT DUE JUNE 24
TOUR INCLUDES
*ALL LODGING
*13 TRAIN RIDES
*20 MEALS
*CHARTER MOTORCOACH
*FULLY ESCORTED
*7 NATIONAL PARKS
NOTE:YOU CAN EXTEND YOUR VACATION BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR
"FALL COLORS EXPRESS" DEPARTING DENVER ON OCTOBER18
ONBOARD OUR PRIVATE RAIL CARS FOR CALIFORNIA
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