Can confirm this. When making our reservations for this year they said if there were no seats we could stand. Pick your poison: stand after being on your feet a lot already or spend one more night near the tracks.timewarp01 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:50 pmLast year I came out a day early and there were no seats but they let us stand in the middle between the benches on the open car.Cygnus X1 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 8:57 pm Made our group reservation today. Was conservative with the exit date to allow for a weather day. The person I talked to said we could come out early provided seats were available. Has anyone here found they couldn't catch a ride back to Durango a day early due to no available seats? With 135 seats for climbing parties, it seems there wouldn't be a problem catching an earlier train but thought I'd ask here.
Train to Needleton Reservations
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- greenonion
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
- Cygnus X1
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
Thanks. If the weather ends up not being a problem, we'll have to decide whether we head back to Needleton and risk not getting a ride or staying in the basin another day and maybe climb Jupiter. At this point, no one in our group is chasing the Cents so it could go either way.
- Mtnman200
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
A few years ago, one of the D&SNGRR folks said "we'll make room for you" when I asked about returning on a different day than my ticket was for. Unlike timewarp01, I didn't have to stand.Cygnus X1 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 9:34 am Thanks. If the weather ends up not being a problem, we'll have to decide whether we head back to Needleton and risk not getting a ride or staying in the basin another day and maybe climb Jupiter. At this point, no one in our group is chasing the Cents so it could go either way.
"Adventure without risk is not possible." - Reinhold Messner
- KentonB
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
If you strategically plan your hike in miserable rainy weather, I can tell you from experience that you'll almost have the entire train all to yourself!
Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
As mentioned, they will make room for you on the return trip, even on holiday weekends.
It is worth mentioning though that the train isn't allowed to run when the fire danger reaches level 2. When that happens, you will have to walk out even if you have a ticket and reservation.
It is worth mentioning though that the train isn't allowed to run when the fire danger reaches level 2. When that happens, you will have to walk out even if you have a ticket and reservation.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
- Cygnus X1
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
Hopefully we don't have to resort to Kenton's method. And I sure hope we're not in high fire danger restrictions in mid-July!
- disentangled
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
From the info I read, they shut down the steam train at level 2 and the diesel which allows wilderness access at level 4.Scott P wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:02 am As mentioned, they will make room for you on the return trip, even on holiday weekends.
It is worth mentioning though that the train isn't allowed to run when the fire danger reaches level 2. When that happens, you will have to walk out even if you have a ticket and reservation.
- CheapCigarMan
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
Didn't they finish converting all of their trains to diesel now? I don't think they have any more steam trains. If I'm mistaken they were converting them somehow to reduce the chances of causing fires.disentangled wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:52 amFrom the info I read, they shut down the steam train at level 2 and the diesel which allows wilderness access at level 4.Scott P wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:02 am As mentioned, they will make room for you on the return trip, even on holiday weekends.
It is worth mentioning though that the train isn't allowed to run when the fire danger reaches level 2. When that happens, you will have to walk out even if you have a ticket and reservation.
I should be on a mountain
- Cygnus X1
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
The website still shows steam trains are running for the regular tourists but not if you are stopping at Needleton. Only diesel if getting off and on at Needleton.
- CheapCigarMan
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
Now that I'm thinking about it a bit more. I believe they no longer have coal fired engines. They've all been converted to diesel. The steam engines are now powered by diesel and not coal.
I'm grateful I got to ride them back in the day when they were coal fired. A nostalgic experience
I'm grateful I got to ride them back in the day when they were coal fired. A nostalgic experience
I should be on a mountain
- 12ersRule
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
Agreed. Coal pairs well with cheap cigars.CheapCigarMan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:10 pm Now that I'm thinking about it a bit more. I believe they no longer have coal fired engines. They've all been converted to diesel. The steam engines are now powered by diesel and not coal.
I'm grateful I got to ride them back in the day when they were coal fired. A nostalgic experience
- disentangled
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Re: Train to Needleton Reservations
Their website has reservations for summer 2023 for both steam and diesel trains.CheapCigarMan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:10 pm Now that I'm thinking about it a bit more. I believe they no longer have coal fired engines. They've all been converted to diesel. The steam engines are now powered by diesel and not coal.
I'm grateful I got to ride them back in the day when they were coal fired. A nostalgic experience