Railtrail Annual Brochure 2021

S pectacular

N E W T O U R

Garden of the Gods

© Shutterstock

packed lunch that is provided on board. On arrival back at Antonito we travel by road to Alamosa and arrive at our hotel for the next two nights, the Best Western Alamosa Inn. (L) DAY 8 Today we enjoy more steam but with a different locomotive. For our journey this morning one of the original smaller 125-year old engines is at the head of our steam special freight train . We travel on a return trip through the semi-scrub scenery and the inaccessible Toltec Gorge to Osier and have a packed lunch to enjoy on board. Once again, we have numerous great photo opportunities with even more run-bys . (B,L) DAY 9 We transfer by private coach over the 10,500ft Wolf Creek Pass and the historic town of Pagosa Springs, past Durango to the small town of Dolores – home to the “Galloping Goose Historical Society Museum” . These ingenious railcars were built from old trucks and buses in order to retain some sort of passenger services on the narrow gauge lines in later years. After a break for lunch we visit Mesa Verde National Park for their amazingly preserved cliff dwellings of which there are over 600 some dating back 1500 years. We then transfer to our hotel for the next two nights, the Best Western Rio Grande Inn ideally situated just a five minute walk from the narrow gauge station. (B) DAY 10 After breakfast we ride the steam hauled 3ft gauge train from Durango on another day of spectacular scenery over bridges, ledge running on the “high line” 200ft above the Animas River and through remote canyons to the historic mining town of Silverton . We have free time for lunch and to take a stroll around the many fascinating turn of the century buildings before returning by train to Durango. (B) DAY 11 We travel by road over the “Million Dollar Highway” (there two version of why it is called that: one is the cost of building it, the other the amount of gold discovered in the dirt) but it ranks as one of the most spectacular road journeys in the USA taking you over three 10,000ft plus mountain passes . We stop at Ouray for lunch before continuing north calling in at Ridgeway Railroad Museum, the Black Canyon loco at Cimarron and

Amtrak “California Zephyr”

14 DAYS

13 DAYS

©Amtrak

OR

Gunnison Pioneer Museum. Tonight, we stay at the Quality Inn Gunnison. (B) DAY 12 This morning we transfer by road to Glenwood Springs where we board Amtrak’s “California Zephyr” for a 7-hour ride through the heart of the Rockies to Denver’s Union station . On board we enjoy the best of the scenery from the huge windows of the Superliner Lounge car. Snacks and drinks are available to purchase on board during our journey. There is no need to take our luggage with us today, it will go directly by coach to our hotel and will be waiting for us when we arrive at the Holiday Inn Express, in Denver. (B) DAY 13 We enjoy a leisurely morning to relax and have the option to use a local transport pass for buses and trams, ride past UP and CSX freight yards, or get some last minute shopping. We meet at the hotel in the early afternoon to transfer by private coach to the Forney Transportation Museum where they have one of UP’s huge 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” locomotives. Following our visit, we transfer to Denver Airport for the direct evening BA flight to London Heathrow. (B) DAY 14 Following our incredible Colorado Railroad adventure, we arrive back at London Heathrow late morning and begin our journey home. Please note: All times should be taken as provisional as changes may occur during the tour.

DEPARTS

BY AIR

GROUND ONLY

Friday 1 October 2021

FARES From London Heathrow Airport: Standard Economy seats on

HOTELS For further details of our USA hotels, please visit our website www.railtrail.co.uk ; ★ Holiday Inn Express, Denver ★ Delaware Hotel, Leadville ★ Quality Inn Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs ★ Quality Inn & Suites, Canon City ★ Branding Iron Motel, Chama ★ Best Western Alamosa Inn, Alamosa ★ Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn, Durango ★ Quality Inn, Gunnison British Airways £4695 Upgraded flight seats on On Request British Airways Join & Leave at Denver (i.e. Ground Only Fare) £3995 Single Traveller Supplement £975 Return flights from London Heathrow to USA with British Airways 12 nights hotel accommodation with private facilities Breakfast each day (excluding 07/10/21) plus 4 packed lunches and 1 dinner All excursions and admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE

Golden Railroad Museum

Mesa Verde National Park

©Golden Railroad Museum

©Colorado National Parks

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

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