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Mexican Copper Canyon Rail
8 days / 7 nights

Join us for a spectacular charter train adventure into Mexico and the rugged Copper Canyon region of the Sierra Madre Mountains during the cool and dry month of November. Our all Pullman train will cover what is now almost all freight only trackage since the government allowed the passenger trains to be discontinued. Our journey will run over the old Ferrocarril del Pacifico down the west coast of Mexico. Then we switch off to the Chihuahua Al Pacifico route heading directly into the Sierra Madre region with 87 tunnels and 35 bridges. Both railroads have been merged into one system now called Ferromex. Enjoy one of the most dramatic train journeys in the world and an engineering marvel. Plenty of sightseeing and leisure time is offered for our clients and we will have photo run- bys each day as freight traffic permits.

We will be using the famous and luxurious "Sierra Madre Express" passenger train set which is owned and operated by an American company with very high standards. Our all Pullman train will be made up with the following passenger cars.

Tour Includes: 19 meals - Fully Escorted - 5 nights lodging in first class hotels - 2 nights onboard with private pullman room - All sightseeing and events as listed in the itinerary

Notice: Passport is required

Built in 1949 for the Union Pacific Railroad by the American Car and Foundry Company, this car offers a unique open-air patio observation deck. There are eight state-rooms, with sink, toilet and twin lower beds. The original conductor’s room, with upper and lower berths, has been preserved.

Built in 1949 for the Union Pacific Railroad as a crew dormitory and baggage car by the American Car and Foundry Company, the car has eight staterooms, with sink, toilet and twin lower beds. The original conductor’s room, with upper and lower berths, has been preserved.

Built in 1955 by the American Car and Foundry Company for the Union Pacific Railroad, it later was in service on Amtrak and then ran on the Autotrain between Washington, D.C. and Florida. Prior to purchase by the Sierra Madre Express, the car was owned by the Entertainment Line as a dinner excursion train in Maryland.

Built in 1946 by the Pullman Company, it ran on the Empire Builder between Seattle and Chicago until it was eventually purchased by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. This car has roomettes designed for single occupancy. The roomettes have sinks only. There is a general restroom.

Built in 1946 by the Pullman Company, it ran on the Northern Pacific between Chicago and Seattle. Retired from service in the mid-50’s, it has been returned to its original state. The Arizona is a lounge car with a glass enclosed observation area and wet bar. It accommodates 22 guests and has four double occupancy compartments with upper and lower berths, a sink and toilet and one drawing room with a private toilet.

Thursday, November 8th (D)
Independent arrivals in Tucson, Arizona. After hotel check-in at the DoubleTree Reid Park Hotel. You can park your car at the hotel for the entire tour. We will have a "Get Acquainted" cocktail reception and dinner that will start at 6PM.

Friday, November 9th (B-L-D)
After breakfast, passengers are picked up at the hotel lobby and depart by charter motorcoach at 8:00AM to board the Sierra Madre Express in Nogales, Mexico which is just across the border. Departure of our train is at 11 AM. After you get all settled in to your bedrooms it will be time to serve lunch in "The Tucson" dome dining car. Mid-afternoon we will arrive in the small town of Benjamin Hill in the Sonora Desert. Here is where the mainline of the Ferrocarril Sonora Baja California joins with the Nogales to Guadalajara mainline of the Ferrocarril Del Pacific. Remember, all of these rail lines are now owned and operated by one railroad company called Ferromex. At Benjamin Hill we will make a stop for you to take photos of the old station and steam locomotive on display here. We will also stage another photo run-by. Sunset will over take us as we are headed southbound through the large city of Hermosillo. Relax and enjoy the desert sunset from the dome car as our crew prepares to serve dinner. After dinner you may want to stroll back to the rear end observation car for a night cap in the lounge before turning in for the night. Arrival in Empalme will be around 8:00PM. This is a crew change point and required service stop and you are welcome to stretch your legs on the station platform. Empalme is just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean Resort of Guaymas. For the railroad photographers you will have plenty of time to take some night photos of our train and motive power and as a general rule there are quite a few diesel engines parked in the yard that you can shoot. Within the hour, we are off again for the night run through flat farming countryside.

Saturday, November 10th (B-L-D)
Our charter train will arrive at the large railroad junction of Sufragio around 4:00AM. This is the junction with the Chihuahua al Pacific line, route to the Copper Canyon. Here we will change crews, change directions and change diesel power plus the train will be served. Our diesel power will be changed from a six axle unit to a ex-Ferrocarril de Chihuahua al Pacifico four axle unit. The Copper Canyon line only uses four axle units because of the sharp curves. We should be rolling out of town about 6:00AM and again headed northbound in the opposite direction. But soon we swing away from the Nogales main- line and head east directly towards the Sierra Madre Mountains. For the early risers, you can enjoy a spectacular sunrise from the dome car as the massive mountain range looms ahead of us. After you have your cup of coffee, feel free to step outside on the open platform of "The Divisadero" which is now the rear car of our train and smell the fresh mountain air. Soon breakfast will be served as we enter the rugged part of our journey, said to be one of the most dramatic train ride in the western hemisphere, and considered to be an engineering marvel which took almost 100 years to build. This line was finally completed in 1961 with 87 tunnels and 35 bridges. By late morning we will be approaching the famous loops at Temoris where the railroad climbs 1,100 feet in just a few miles with several loops, tunnels and bridges, including one long tunnel that does a complete 180 degree turn inside the mountain to gain altitude. This is totally awesome railroading! Here at the Temoris depot we will make a photo run-by. Those folks who would like to get off of our train may do so and we will back the train down the lower loop so you can get some spectacular photos of the entire canyon, bridge and of course, our train. After our photo stop, we will pull our train to the upper level and make another photo stop. This will be a stationary stop over 1000 feet above the lower loop and the location of the monument where the diesel locomotive has been lifted into the air and mounted on the side of the cliff 1000 feet over the railroad. Remember, besides the dome car you can step outside on the open air car and we will also have the vestibules open so that you can view the passing spectacular scenery, remote Mexican villages, waterfalls, rivers, sheer rock cliffs towering some 4,000 feet above our train and the wildlife. As we travel higher into the mountains the Tarahumara Indians will greet our train at each station stop. We will make one or two more scenic photo stops and photo run-bys before the end of the day. We will arrive at Divisadero late afternoon which is at 8,000 feet and right on the rim of the fantastic Copper Canyon. We then transfer to the Hotel Posada Mirador which is built along the rim of the canyon. Once you get checked-in, you can walk the many rim tails and enjoy the breathtaking views or you can step out on your private deck suspended right over the Copper Canyon and relax and enjoy the sunset in the crisp mountain air with the strong aroma of sweet pine trees. Copper Canyon is three times larger and 300 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Your view extends over 100 miles. Then join us for a reception and entertainment by the Tarahumara Indians, followed by dinner.

Sunday, November 11th (B-L-D)
Following breakfast at the hotel we will reboard our train at the Divisadero station for the two hour ride to Creel, heart of the Tarahumara Indian Empire. Before arriving in Creel we make one photo stop and run-by in a thick pine forest next to a Tarahumara farm. Also our train will run around "El Lazo" where the tracks must make a complete 360 loop in order to gain elevation. At Creel, we will take you on a tour of the Indian Reservation then back to town to shop for the great native handcrafts in the many stores. In the afternoon, we ride our train back to Divisadero for a 2nd night at the Hotel Posada Mirador.

Monday, November 12th (B-L-D)
You will have a full day at Divisadero to explore the miles and miles of rim trails and the many breathtaking overlooks into the Copper Canyon. At your own leisure you can take the trail that leads to one of the famous Tarahumara Indian caves near our hotel. Here you can visit one of the interesting Indian villages and learn first hand the local culture of these peoples. 3rd night at the Posada Mirador Hotel.

Tuesday, November 13th (B-L-D)
We depart Divisadero in the morning and reboard our private charter train for the return journey back to he Mexican-US border. The entire run down the Sierra Madre Mountains and through the rugged Copper Canyon region will again be traveled in daylight with an arrival in Surfragio at 3PM and a departure headed northbound at 5PM. We will have our "Farewell to Mexico" dinner in the dome car as the sun sets in the west and our train heads north.

Wednesday, November 14th (B-L)
Sunrise will greet us north of Benjamin Hill in the Sonora Desert with an arrival back in Nogales around 3:00PM. Charter motorcoach transfer back to Tucson arriving by 6:00PM and hotel check-in. We will first go to the airport and drop anyone off that might have a flight this evening. We then go to the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel and drop the balance of the group off. We hope to have the group back in Tucson around 4:00PM.

Thursday, November 15th (B)
Enjoy a leisure breakfast at the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel before you check out and head home.

$3,495 per person

$3,295 per person

Children (ages 4-12)

N/A

$1,500 per person

Please note: All prices are subject to change without notice. All fares are in US Dollars (USD). Taxes and insurance not included in above package price. Insurance is required for all tours.

Information & Reservations
1-800-717-0108 or 503-292-5055