Train to Needleton Reservations

[greenonion]

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.

Last 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.

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.

[Cygnus X1]

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]

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.

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.

[KentonB]

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!

[Scott P]

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.

[Cygnus X1]

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]

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.

From the info I read, they shut down the steam train at level 2 and the diesel which allows wilderness access at level 4.

[CheapCigarMan]

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.

From the info I read, they shut down the steam train at level 2 and the diesel which allows wilderness access at level 4.

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.

[Cygnus X1]

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]

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

[12ersRule]

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

Agreed. Coal pairs well with cheap cigars.

[disentangled]

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

Their website has reservations for summer 2023 for both steam and diesel trains.