Rio Grande 463 & Rio Grande 168 Photo Charter Train Ride

Join us for a two-day charter on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad featuring Rio Grande 463 and Rio Grande 168 – hosted by Dak Dillon Photography.

We’ll celebrate the Mudhen’s 120th birthday with a throwback to the 1950s and 168’s 140th birthday with a mixed train for the first time ever on a charter.

Thursday, October 19 – Rio Grande 463

Rio Grande 463 will feature flying Rio Grande lettering for the first charter in approximately 20 years along with refreshed graphite on the smokebox.

• The charter will depart Antonito pre-dawn with photo opportunities from sunrise to late-afternoon.
• The train will operate from Antonito and begin with sunrise at Lava Tank before making our way to Cascade Trestle (subject to change) with runbys planned for numerous locations.
• 463 will pull approximately 6 or 7 livestock stock cars (shown in the historical photos on this page) along with rider boxcars and a caboose for photographers to ride in. The train will have a bathroom available in the bathroom boxcar.
• After our return to Antonito, we’ll set up professional LED lighting for photos of the engine in the yard during twilight and into the evening.
• A box lunch is included in the ticket price.

Friday, October 20 – Rio Grande 168

Rio Grande 168 will pull a mixed consist for the first time on the Cumbres & Toltec. You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity!

The train will be dated to the World War I era on the DRG&W (approximately 1919-1926).

• The charter will depart Antonito pre-dawn with photo opportunities from sunrise to late-afternoon.
• The train will operate from Antonito and begin with sunrise at Ferguson’s Trestle before making our way to Osier (subject to change) with runbys planned for numerous locations.
• 168 will pull approximately 5-7 cars including historic passenger coaches, boxcar, tank car OR flat car and a caboose.
• The train will have a bathroom available and one is available at Osier.
• A box lunch is included in the ticket price.

Due to the duration of this event and the potential terrain, we do not recommend this experience for young children.