My Vacation

[PRRThomas11]

This summer, I'm going on a big vacation by from New Jersey through Colorado and down to the Grand Canyon the back home a little south through Arizona and Kansas. I'm going to a couple trains, Durango and Silverton, Cumbres and Toltec, Grand Canyon railroad, the Museum of Transportation in , which I think is in Indiana, and various other attractions. Does anyone know of any must sees or have been to any of these places? What did you think?

Thanks for replies in advance!

[Santa Fe buff]

This summer, I'm going on a big vacation by from New Jersey through Colorado and down to the Grand Canyon the back home a little south through Arizona and Kansas. I'm going to a couple trains, Durango and Silverton, Cumbres and Toltec, Grand Canyon railroad, the Museum of Transportation in , which I think is in Indiana, and various other attractions. Does anyone know of any must sees or have been to any of these places? What did you think?

Thanks for replies in advance!

I hope you have a good trip, know are you on those companies resorts? If so, then here are the links for further information, I'm also sorry, I don't know of any other attractions out in that area. Here are the links:
http://www.thetrain.com/ The Grand Canyon Railroad website. This would be a very nice area to take photos along with videos, so pack your camcorder, with it's parts and adapters.
http://www.durangotrain.com/ The Durango and Silverton website. You should also be ready for this one as well.
http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/ Very nice sights on this website.
But if you even come near McHenry County in Illinois, then go for it, Union, IL in McHenry has Illinois train muesum, the largest collection of full size railroad locomotives!
Happy taveling.

[Yampa Bob]

There is a lot to see out here.  If you have time, you might want to stop at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. Besides lots of equipment on display, the library is very extensive.

Also in Golden is Coors brewery, get some free suds on tour days. The Denver public library has thousands of railroad pictures by Otto Perry.

We considered the Durango and Silverton, but 7 hours for a round trip of only 100 miles seems a bit tiring, so we usually recommend the Georgetown Loop instead.  It's a very short trip with the original C&S engine #9.  The trip over the Devil's Gate Viaduct is awesome.  Very easy access right off Interstate 70. Check out all the pictures at this site:

http://www.homestaydenver.com/CS9/

On the way to Georgetown you can visit the historic cities of Blackhawk and Central City, toss a few coins into the slots at Mountain High Casino. 

The best value in lodging is 3 Star, we prefer Best Western. Look for older but nice motels on the edge of town, with parking right in front of your room.  Most of them have free continental breakfasts and internet access so you can keep us advised along the way. (if you have time). 

Hope you have a wonderful vacation, and "Welcome to Colorful Colorado". If you have a digital camera, bring extra memory cards and carry plenty of batteries. When we travel, we take along a small laptop so we can transfer images every night.

One more thing, bring a sweater or jacket, nights can be very cool here.

Bob

[RAM]

Well I will be leaving on the first to go from Oklahoma to New Jersey. 
family reunion in PA but I would like to go on to NJ where I spent the first 12 years of my life.  A Ball park takes up most of the old farm, and a tail runs where the tracks of the CNJ.  I loved those CB 4-8-0s and 2-8-2s.  However at the time I did not know what they were.  To me they were just big locomotives and small locomotives.  I moved in 1944 steam was king.

[Santa Fe buff]

Well I will be leaving on the first to go from Oklahoma to New Jersey. 
family reunion in PA but I would like to go on to NJ where I spent the first 12 years of my life.  A Ball park takes up most of the old farm, and a tail runs where the tracks of the CNJ.  I loved those CB 4-8-0s and 2-8-2s.  However at the time I did not know what they were.  To me they were just big locomotives and small locomotives.  I moved in 1944 steam was king.

Can you please post pictures?

[Yampa Bob]

Well...I just checked the Georgetown Loop web site, apparently steam locomotives 9 and 12 are in for repairs. This season they will be using diesels, that should be interesting.  Wonder what type?  We're going to Denver in July, will have to check it out.

http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/

[TrampTrader]

I hope everyone has a great vacation. Please take lots of photos to share with  those of us back here on the boards !



Pete

[PRRThomas11]

Santa Fe Buff-
Thanks for all of that info! I think we will be staying at that trackside hotel in Durango and Grand Canyon Railroad's Hotel.

Yampa Bob-
Thanks for all of those details. I'll definitely take that into account. I'll have memory cards for my camera that hold over 600 pictures and a laptop the import them onto. And my family is getting sweatshirts made.
I have seen the Georgetown Loop on a DVD and it looks cool. I think its a little out of our way, sadly. And thanks for noticing that they are using diesels.

RAM-
While you are in New Jersey, if you are looking for Jersey Central I know where you should go. Go to where you catch the ferry to go to the Statue of Liberty. Thats in the Jersey Central's old terminal. Its brilliantly restored. The tracks are over grown though. The roof and bumpers at the end are still there but where the yard was is now a really big parking lot. Check it out.

TrampTrader-
Don't worry, I'll have plenty of pictures. The only problem will be choosing which ones to put online!

Thanks again to everyone! I'll keep you all in touch during my vacation on this thread.

[az2rail]

You may be interested in the Verde Canyon train ride while your at the Grand Canyon. It is a short drive from Williams. It starts a Clarkdale, Az, and runs norhtwest through the verde canyon to  place called Perkinsville, and back.

Their web site is http://www.verdecanyonrr.com.

Unless your taking the train to see the Grand Canyon, I like this ride more. Sorry, it is not steam.

Bruce

[PRRThomas11]

Thanks. I am going to look into that. Wonderful Scenery there. I have seen it on a DVD.