FAQs

Where can I purchase Tickets?

Tickets on Sale February 1, 2013

Tickets will be available online at www.durangobluestrain.com and http://www.durangotrain.com  by phone at (877) 872-4607, and/or in person at the D&SNGRR Train Depot, the depot is open from 7am to 6pm daily.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot
479 Main Ave
Durango, CO 81301
Reservations: (970) 247-2733
General Information: (970) 247-2733
Toll Free: (877) 872-4607

All tickets are non-refundable and non-replaceable. Each ticket is associated with a name and cannot be transferred. Please keep them in a safe place!

All tickets are non-refundable and non-replaceable. All Sales are FINAL. Please keep them in a safe place!

How Many Musicians will be on board?

There will be both solo artists and full bands performing live blues on the train with a sound system in each coach. The coaches with the solo musicians will have seats in with plenty of room to dance and move around. Coaches are fully enclosed rail cars with windows and doors that open and close. Full bands will be located in the open air “gondola” cars. Gondolas have full roofs, open sides, and seats will be removed to provide plenty of room for dancing and moving (we encourage passengers on gondolas to bring jackets).

There will be one coach with no music for people to chat and relax away from the music. Please read below about open air gondolas and cinders in the air. You will be allowed to travel between all coaches and Gondolas. Each passenger coach holds approximately 40 passengers. Our Coach Hosts may ask you to move into another coach if they feel there are too many people in one of the coach or gondola railcars. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL TRAVELING PAST THE MUSICIANS. This is a narrow-gauge railroad meaning there is not a lot of width between the aisle and the musicians. Please be very careful and courteous as you pass by the musicians and accompaying guests.

How long is the Blues Train? What is the schedule?

The Blues Train is approximately 3 hours long round-trip.

Tentative Schedule:
Boarding at 6:30-6:50PM
7:00PM Train Departs Depot
8:20PM Train Arrives at Highline
10:10PM Trains arrives back to Depot

*Train departure time is firm however return time to the Depot is tentative.

Where will our tickets be?

If you purchased your tickets online they will be available for pick up at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot will-call starting at 4pm prior to boarding. Tickets purchased will be in an envelope under the last name of the person who purchased them. Please treat your tickets as cash, once purchased; they are irreplaceable if lost prior to departure.

Are there assigned seats?

Yes and no! Your coach assignment will be listed on your wristband which is picked up when you exchange your ticket at the train depot. Once the train departs you are free to walk between all the coaches and gondolas and check out all the different musicians. If one coach or gondola is full just please move on to another so that we do not overcrowd a coach or gondola (this does not happy often, so don't worry, there is plenty of room to move around). If there were to be an emergency we ask that you return to your assigned coach or gondola railcar until the emergency is dealt with properly. Please note some of you will be assigned our one coach with no music. Your location in this coach is just for departure and in case of emergencies. You may mingle amongst all the coach and gondola railcars as soon as we are underway.

Can I walk through the train and sit where I want?

After the train is underway, passengers are free to walk throughout the train to dance and sample all the music, visit the Concession Car for refreshments and use the restrooms. 

Are there restrooms?

Yes. Restrooms are located in the rear of each of the enclosed standard coaches and accessible to all passengers. 

Are there refreshments?

Yes. Refreshments are for sale in our concession car located toward the center of the train.  There is a cash bar featuring beer, wine, snacks and a wide selection of  non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.

Will there be people to assist you?

Yes, each PASSENGER coach will have a Coach Host. They will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and also your point of contact in case there is an emergency. 

Can we stand outside in between coaches?

Due to safety reasons you will not be allowed to stand outside coach cars. The passageway between coaches must be kept clear at all times. Our Coach Hosts will be monitoring this location at all times.

Can we smoke?

No, the entire train including the open air gondolas are NON SMOKING.

Is there an ATM?

No, the train depot does not have an ATM, credit cards will be accepted both at the Train depot and onboard the Train.

What kind of weather should I expect?

The Durango area boasts nearly 300 days of sunshine and the month of June is no exception. However, it's always good to be prepared for rain during this time of time of year! Two of the coaches are open air coaches so dress prepared. This event is Rain or Shine.

What should I wear?

When traveling on the D&SNGRR, we suggest you wear layers of clothing. The Durango Blues Train will depart early evening and although we are expecting a warm summer evening Colorado mountain weather can change instantly so be prepared for a crisp evening. Clear glasses are highly recommended, when in our two open air coaches, to protect eyes from possible cinders in the air.  Eye protection is available for purchase in the depot gift shops and onboard the train. White clothing is not advised.

PLEASE NOTE THAT CINDERS IN THE AIR ARE VERY POSSIBLE WITH A COAL-FIRED STEAM LOCOMOTIVE. TWO OF OUR “OPEN-AIR GONDOLAS” WILL HOST THE BANDS AND NO SEATS FOR DANCING. PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY AND BE PREPARED FOR SOME POSSIBLE CINDERS IN THE AIR AND ON YOUR CLOTHING.

Where can I park when I ride the train?

The D&SNGRR parking lot is located next to the rail yard at the corner of U.S. Hwy 550 and College Drive, just west of the McDonald's restaurant. You may also purchase your parking ticket with cash at the parking lot on the morning of your ride.

Parking lot fees are $7.00 for a car, truck or motorcycle and $9.00 for an RV, bus, trailer or any vehicle utilizing more than one standard parking space. You will need to purchase a parking ticket for each date your vehicle is parked in the lot. Per city ordinance, there is no overnight camping allowed in the lot.

What about altitude?

Durango's elevation is 6,512 feet above sea level and Rockwood sits comfortably at 7,367 feet in elevation. Guests are encouraged to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water to prepare for altitude (whenever possible, try to acclimate to the altitude by arriving a day early). If you have any health concerns, check with your physician for advice.

Will I have any difficulties driving to Durango?

No. If you're driving in Colorado, you can find current road conditions by visiting the CO Department of Transportation's Web site at www.COTrip.org For recorded phone information please call: 303-639-1111 or toll free 877-315-7623.

FUN FACTS

Read the 2012 article in The Denver Post and see a videom from last's year's train here!

What is the difference between a coach and a gondola?

Coaches are fully enclosed with windows and doors that open and close. Seats face forward. Our gondolas have full roofs, open sides, and no seats. We encourage passengers on gondolas to bring jackets (jackets, ponchos and fleeces are also available for purchase in the gift shop) and dress appropriately for outdoor weather conditions.

How many people does it take to run the train? Who is in charge?

Five people: Conductor, Head Brakeman, Rear Brakeman, Engineer and Fireman. The crew also includes attendants in the Concession Car and the coach cars. The conductor is in charge! The brakeman assists the conductor.

How narrow is the narrow gauge? Why was it used?

Narrow gauge rails are three feet (36 inches) apart, while standard gauge rails are four feet, 8 1/2 inches (56 1/2 inches), which is a standard based on Roman chariot wheels. The D&RG chose to build narrow gauge because the construction was cheaper, the equipment cost less and the narrow gauge was better suited to the sharper curves of the mountain terrain.

How fast does the train go?

The train travels at a top speed of 18 mph (regular speed with all the coaches).

What steam locomotive will we be riding?

The D&SNG have 3 K-28s (473, 476, and 478) and 4 K-36s (480, 481, 482, and 486). 

What is the weight of the D&SNG locomotive?

The D&SNG K-28s weigh 254,500 pounds when loaded with coal and water. Our K-36s weigh 286,600 pounds when loaded with coal and water. The K-36s are numbered in the 480 series. 

How old are the D&SNG locomotives?

No. 42 (on display in the D&SNGRR Museum) was built in 1887. The locomotives used for daily service are from 1923 and 1925. 

Which movies has the train "starred" in?

Colorado Territory (1949), Ticket to Tomahawk (1950), Denver & Rio Grande (1952), Viva Zapata (1952), Three Young Texans (1954), Run for Cover (1955), Maverick Queen (1956), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Night Passage (1957), How the West Was Won (1963), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Support Your Local Gunfighter (1970), Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (1984), The Tracker (1987), Rebirth of a Locomotive (1992), Tracks Through Time (1999), Durango Kids (1999), Golden Dreams (2000), and The Claim (2000).