The Cascade Canyon Express will run from Rockwood to Cascade Canyon, a distance of about 6 miles, before returning to the station in less than two hours. The diesel-powered trip will take passengers through some of the most spectacular scenery on the former Denver & Rio Grande Western Silverton Branch, including along the “Highline,” a stretch of track on a cliff high above the river.
The new excursion will begin June 17 and continue through Aug. 14. The train will depart the Rockwood Station, located 18 miles north of the D&SNG’s base at Durango, at 11:10 a.m. and return at 1 p.m.
“For several years now, many guests have requested shorter excursions, so we developed the Cascade Canyon Express as a viable solution for those travelers who desire the historic scenic railroad experience on the D&SNGRR line, but have limited time for various reasons,” says Allen C. Harper, head of the Durango & Silverton. “In addition, the Cascade Canyon Express is also an affordable, flexible option for riding the D&SNGRR, with its late-morning departure time, and coach and gondola fares at substantially lower rates than those for round trips to Silverton.”
“Based on consumer sentiment and demand, we fully expect the Cascade Canyon Express to be an immediate hit with summer travelers, particularly families with small children,” Harper says.
Until the D&S gets all (or enough of) their steam engines converted to oil, then a diesel will be the only other choice if you want to ride on the D&S.
Lets see if this works better than a previous owner’s attempt. Back then it was a diesel hydraulic train targeted at backpackers and mountain climbers. It went farther to serve the trails especially at Needle Creek (just short of MP 483) to cut off 11 trail miles from the highway each way to Chicago Basin. Needle Creek provides access to four fourteen-thousand foot peaks and another trail that accesses more of the one-hundred highest peaks in the state. Also back then the regular customers complained about the smelly backpackers boarding the train en-route and unlike the last time I was there, coach class was sold out.
That service did not last long. The diesel hydraulic developed a reputation for breaking down and with it not being run meant you had to come back the next day either going in or coming out – sucks if you have to get back to work. I booked it a couple of times to climb the high peaks with friends who where mountain climbers, not rail fans – they where not happy about riding a diesel instead of behind steam.
Cascade Canyon wye (MP 477.55 excluding the tail) did not exist back then and going just to Cascade Canyon wye only cuts off six of the eleven miles from the highway to the Needle Creek trail.
I am annoyed by complaints about ticket prices because they are based from old information. Today’s ticket prices are less than a half day lift ticket at the nearby ski resort. That ski area, Purgatory, charges about half of what the larger ski areas charge ($89 full day vs $199 at the resort near where Fred Frailey summers). Lift tickets used to be well under $20 when the Rio Grande sold this branch line. The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club offered photo trips for their 80th and lost money on most of them. A photo trip with the SP locomotive on this line is being offered (http://www.lerrophotography.com/photoshoots/railroad-photo-shoots/) but is likely to be canceled due to lack of sales. Keep complaining about prices instead of buying and likely nothing will be offered in the future except for luxury trips sold to people not interested in railroads.
WTH, $64 for what amounts to a 12 mile round trip for an adult…what, does Mr. Harper have to pay off everyone after the big fire last summer? That’s a hell of a lot of money for basically nothing, imo.
“All tickets are subject to an eight percent historic preservation fee.” The D. & S. is doing what I suggested Amtrak do for at least partly funding the Hudson River tunnels in NYC. Maybe they should be in charge of the project.
Penelope Vinson: The demand is usually higher for the open cars (except on rainy days of course) so they can charge more.
I am surprised that the gondola has higher fares than the coach since it is not enclosed and probably lacks cushioned seats.