You never forget your first ride on steam-driven historic train. From Alaska to North Carolina, all across North America, heritage railroads take passengers back in time, to a simpler era, when coal-fired steam engines drove trains over narrow-gauge lines up and over some of the most rugged-and spectacular landscapes in the country.
The editors of True West tip their engineer's caps to the owners and preservationists who work so hard throughout the year to provide extraordinary experiences on their heritage trains for tourists of all generations from around the world. We recommend the following 12 historic railroads to ride and experience the Old West firsthand.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Durango and Silverton, Colorado
Durango is a four-season destination. Since 1959 the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has operated as a tourist train from May to October, with limited special trains in the winter and spring. The railroad makes it easy to customize an experience with different travel packages, including the adventurous Discover Silverton Package and always popular Polar Express. When in Durango, enjoy the historic downtown district with its great variety of hotels, restaurants, pubs and specialty shops.
The Grand Canyon Railway
Williams, Arizona
On September 17, 1901, the Santa Fe Railway launched the 64-mile Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the Grand Canyon, and it was a favorite line on the AT&SF system until 1968. Passenger service restarted in 1989 as the Grand Canyon Railway, with daily service to and from the national park, plus special packages and train events, such as Steam Saturdays the first Saturday, May through October; the Pumpkin Patch Train, every weekend in October; and the Polar Express, November to January.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
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FIREARMS COLT WALKER 47
THE LEGENDARY HANDGUN THAT REALLY WON THE WEST
HERITAGE TRAVE
THE AMERICAN WEST IN ALL ITS GLORY OUR ANNUAL FAVORITES LIST CELEBRATES DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.
Wild Turkey, and Not the Drinkin' Kind
The actual bird was a favorite of pioneers.
THE PASSION PROJECTS OF THE MODERN WESTERN
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SAMUEL WALKER VALIANT WARRIOR
While a prisoner at the castle of Perote, Walker was put to work raising a flagpole. At the bottom of the hole, Walker placed a Yankee dime, vowing to someday come back and retrieve it, at the same time exacting revenge on his Mexican captors. In the summer of 1847, when Walker's mounted riflemen returned and routed Santa Anna's guerillas, the young captain kept his promise and got his dime back.
THE BATTLE OF CENTRALIA
ON September 27, 1864, Bloody Bill Anderson and about 80 men took over the small railroad village of Centralia, looting stores and discovering a barrel of whiskey that they hauled out into the street. Wild enough when sober, they soon were roaring drunk.
THE MAN WHO SHOOTS THE WEST
Jay Dusard is a living American photographer who has made Arizona his home for over 60 years, seeing it first in 1960 on a visit, moving here for good in 1963.
A TRUE WESTERNER INDEED PHIL SPANGENBERGER 1940-2024
Spangenberger had Nevada trained to bow by the legendary horse trainer, Glenn Randall, who trained Roy Rogers' Trigger, Gene Autry's Champion, Rex Allen's Koko and the Ben Hur chariot horses, among other great equines.
Where Did the Loot Go? - This is one of those find the money stories. And it's one that has attracted treasure hunters for more than 150 years.
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist? Up to a dozen members of the Reno Gang stopped a Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis train at a watering station in southern Indiana. The outlaws had prior intelligence about its main load: express car safes held about $97,000 in government bonds and notes. In the process of the job, one of the crew was killed and two others hurt. The gang made a clean getaway with the loot.
