D&RGW #473 is seen in the snowy Cascade Canyon in Colorado. The Winter Months can be slow for TrainChasers. Many railroad museums and tourist trains take the winter off. There are a few great places to catch trains in action during the slow winter months however and here are some of our favorites!
Durango and Silverton | Durango, Colorado
The Durango & Silverton runs year round. During the Winter months, trains operate to the Cascade Canyon (about the half way mark between the towns of Durango and Silverton) where trains turn on a wye and stop for a short layover along the animas river. Seeing the narrow gauge steam locomotives operate in the snow is a real treat. Since Durango & Silverton always runs steam, this is one of my most recommended winter train rides! Trains runs on various schedules during the winter months, usually Thursday-Saturday.
www.DurangoTrain.com
Grand Canyon Railway | Williams, Arizona
The Grand Canyon Railway operates daily, year round. In Winter 2016 they are scheduled to operate their steam locomotive on February 13th and March 5th (and approximately once a month throughout the rest of 2016 as well). www.TheTrain.com
Durango and Silverton | Durango, Colorado
The Durango & Silverton runs year round. During the Winter months, trains operate to the Cascade Canyon (about the half way mark between the towns of Durango and Silverton) where trains turn on a wye and stop for a short layover along the animas river. Seeing the narrow gauge steam locomotives operate in the snow is a real treat. Since Durango & Silverton always runs steam, this is one of my most recommended winter train rides! Trains runs on various schedules during the winter months, usually Thursday-Saturday.
www.DurangoTrain.com
Grand Canyon Railway | Williams, Arizona
The Grand Canyon Railway operates daily, year round. In Winter 2016 they are scheduled to operate their steam locomotive on February 13th and March 5th (and approximately once a month throughout the rest of 2016 as well). www.TheTrain.com
 VIA Rail's "Canadian" waits on the siding as a Canadian National freight passes on the mainline. | Nevada Northern Railway | Ely, Nevada The Nevada Northern is closed during the winter months, however they host an annual "Winter Steam Photo Spectacular" that is a MUST DO for any railroad photo enthusiast as it features two operating steam locomotives and multiple historic consists including passenger, freight, and work trains. The Photo Specials are held the weekends of February 12-14 & 19-21 in 2016. Tickets for this event sell out each year. www.NNRY.com Strasburg Railroad | Strasburg, Pennsylvania The Strasburg Railroad is closed for the winter until March 12, but they will be running steam trains on Presidents Day Weekend, February 13-15. This is a rare chance to ride the Strasburg Railroad during the cold and snowy winter months. www.StrasburgRailroad.com |
 Durango & Silverton operates along the snowy banks of the Animas River. | Roaring Camp Railroads | Felton, California The "Redwood Forest" train operates daily year round. During the Winter Months through March 22, Steam is scheduled to operate every weekend on this narrow gauge ride through the larger than life redwood trees. After March 22, Steam is scheduled to operate daily. www.RoaringCamp.com Orange Empire Railway Museum |Perris, CA The museum operates trains every weekend, but this winter a few select "Steam Weekends" will give you the chance to see, and ride behind their operating steam locomotive. February 20-21, March 19-20, and Springtime April 16-17 are scheduled for Steam! www.OERM.org Orange Blossom Cannonball | Mt. Dora, Florida If you need a break from the winter weather, the Orange Blossom Cannonball operates their historic wood burning steam locomotive most Saturdays throughout the year, including January and February! Diesel Trains run every Saturday and Sunday and select weekdays as well. www.OrangeBlossomCannonball.com |
 Amtrak's California Zephyr boards passengers in the snow. | St. Mary's Railroad | St. Mary's, Georgia St. Mary's Railroad will welcome visiting Steam Locomotive #126, "Saddie" for their "Wild West" event on February 13 & 20th. This is a special treat to see this traveling tank engine during the winter months. www.StMarysRailroad.com Amtrak & VIA Rail While they don't operate steam, it's worth noting that winter is a great time to take a long distance passenger train on Amtrak in the USA, or VIA Rail in Canada. Amtrak's Coast Starlight and California Zephyr offer spectacular mountain scenery in the USA, and VIA Rail's Canadian travels across Canada and the Canadian Rockies. www.Amtrak.com and www.VIARail.com |
