Register between 4:00 and 5:30 PM with the program's group leader in designated area at hotel.Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.Evening: Program orientation and introductions in hotel meeting room from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.Lodging: MCM EleganteMeals Included: Dinner
Mergers changed the names of the players, but most rail lines remain today in the original road beds.
The exact number of railroads that were built in NM isn't known for sure, but there were about 107 that actually operated, and another group that were proposed but never laid down rails. They were firmly established by 1891.
Bus departs at 9:45 AM to visit the Railroad Historic Society Locomotive Restoration facility in Albuquerque.Lunch: Lunch at a selected restaurantAfternoon: Following lunch, you'll visit the gallery at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Bus departs at 1:30 PM for a visit to Belen, NM. Belen was a major stop on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, which was one of the largest railroads in the US. The company was first chartered in 1859.
There's an old Harvey House in Belen, and a lot of history, that you'll visit, followed by an exploration of the Railyard.
Belen still sees about 100 trains a day pass through the railyard there, hauling freight in all directions.
At 4:00 PM, bus will depart for Albuquerque.Dinner: Dinner in hotel dining room from 6:00-7:00 PM..Evening: PRESENTATION: Optional video in hotel meeting roomLodging: MCM EleganteMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Traveling along the historic Turquoise Trail, a designated National Scenic Byway, bus will stop in towns of Cerrillos and Madrid, all featuring interesting railroad history.
Madrid has a fascinating coal-mining history, and much coal from the loval mines traveled by train to other areas of the country.
Today, Madrid is a charming little town, with a population made up of artists and musicians. Many of the old homes inhabited by the coal miners and their families have been restored and are fun to see. While in Madrid, you'll visit the Mining Museum.Lunch: Lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid from 11:30-12:30 PM. This building was one of the mine shafts in the town; it has been "somewhat restored" and has a funky, old-West feel to it - and great food!Afternoon: Bus departs at 12:30 PM. Following lunch, you'll visit the Turquoise Museum in Cerrillos, NM, then continue on to Chama. You'll go through Espanola; your guide will discuss the Chili Line and other railroad stops along the way to include Piedra Lumbre Visitor Center, Ghost Ranch and Echo Amphitheater.
Arrive in Chama and view the railyard area there where the Cumbres Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad runs.
Check into your hotel in Chama about 4:30 PM.Dinner: Dinner from 6:00-7:30 PM at the High Country Restaurant in Chama. Bus will return to hotel after dinner.Lodging: The Branding Iron MotelMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This train uses a steam engine on a narrow gauge railroad. You'll travel through gorgeous mountain areas, covered with wild flowers.
.Lunch: Lunch in Ossier, CO (about 9,000 feet in altitude!) (they'll take your lunch order on the train), then resume train ride at 1:00 PMAfternoon: Train continues on to Antonito, CO, arriving about 4:00 PM. This town was founded in 1880. It was common for the expanding railroad to create these railroad towns. During the days of full operations on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, Antonito was the connection between the narrow gauge tracks west to Chama and the standard gauge tracks east to Alamosa, CO. The original depot, built in 1882, is still standing east of Main Street. This is a remarkable cut lava stone structure with fine wood detailing. The old Depot is still used by the railroad to house radio equipment.
The new depot was constructed in 1978. It houses the restrooms, ticket office, and waiting area for the current passenger operations of the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad. There is a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor for the night watch person.
Board the bus, which will be waiting for you, and depart for Trinidad, CO
Arrive in Trinidad about 7:30 PM for hotel check-in and dinner.Dinner: Dinner at the hotel from 7:30-8:30 PM.Lodging: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites TrinidadMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bus departs at 8:00 AM for driving excursion around Trinidad, an old railroad and mining town, with some interesting sites we want you to see.
You'll arrive at the Trinidad Amtrak Station at 9:15 AM, and board a train for a 9:50 AM departure to Las Vegas, NM. The train arrives in Las Vegas at 12:50 PM.Lunch: Bus will pick you up at train station, and take you to lunch at a local restaurant from 1:00-2:15 PM.Afternoon: At 2:30 PM, with a local guide, bus will depart for a visit to Las Vegas' historic buildings, including the Casteneda Harvey House and the Las Vegas Roundhouse.
Las Vegas has many sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The pivotal moment in the history of Las Vegas was the arrival of the railroad on July 4, 1879, changing forever the destiny of Las Vegas. With its arrival came legitimate businesses; but it also brought a large number of frontier riffraff including murderers, robbers, thieves, gamblers, swindlers, gunmen, vagrants, and just plain tramps.
If time allows, you'll have some free time on the Las Vegas Plaza to explore.
Check in at the hotel at 4:30 PM.Dinner: Dinner at the hotel from 6:00-7:00 PM in the hotel dining room.Evening: From 7:00-8:00 PM, you'll have a special guest lecturer who will talk about some of the things that make Las Vegas such a special place.Lodging: The Plaza HotelMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
At 10:30, bus departs for Lamy, NM, another stop on Amtrak's train route through New Mexico. Visit the Lamy Railroad and History Museum from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.
Bus travels to Santa Fe at 12:30 PM.Lunch: Lunch in Santa Fe from 1:00-2:00 PMAfternoon: Following lunch, you'll have a guided walking exploration of the historic Plaza area downtown which will include a stop at La Fonda Hotel, which was a Harvey House many years ago. You will have some free time on the Plaza.
Bus will take you to the hotel for check-in at approximately 4:00 PM. Dinner: Your group leader will provide you with a list of restaurants near the hotel (only a few blocks from the downtown area); you're on your own for dinner tonight.
There are a lot of great places to dine, and you'll have some time to explore the downtown area either before or after dinner.Evening: Free evening. You might wish to try a bit of Santa Fe night life!Lodging: Santa Fe Sage InnMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Take luggage to the bus for loading.
Bus departs at 9:45 AM for a visit to the Capitol in downtown Santa Fe (from 10:00-10:45 am).Lunch: At 10:45 the bus will depart for lunch at Tomasita's Restaurant from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. We have to have an early lunch here, as the restaurant does not allow groups after 11:00 AM.Afternoon: At 12:30 PM, take a short walking excursion through the Railyard district.
At 1:00 pm, bus departs for Museum Hill and a visit to the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.
At 3:30, bus departs for downtown area, where you'll board the 4:10 PM Railrunner train for the trip back to Albuquerque. The bus will take your luggage, so you won't have to deal with that!
The Railrunner Train System is fairly new in New Mexico; it currently runs between Belen and Santa Fe, and there are plans for further expansion in the future.
You'll arrive in downtown Albuquerque at the Alvarado Station about 5:30 PM. This train station is very interesting, and you'll have a little time to look around after your arrival there.
At 6:00 PM, our bus will depart for the hotel, arriving about 6:30 PM for check-in.Dinner: Dinner and closing comments in the hotel dining room from 7:15-8:45 PM.Lodging: MCM EleganteMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner