Description
Your Itinerary
- Visit the Santa Fe Depot to pick up your VIP Ticket to Ride with the Engineer.
- Stop at the Happy Endings Caboose for an espresso drink of your choice.
- Our staff will share the exciting ins and outs of what’s to come, including important safety protocol.
- We will escort you to meet the engineer and have your photo taken in front of the train.
- Our engineer will share inside knowledge of the locomotive and the incredible history of this special route.
- When the time is right, you’ll board the cab with the engineer and ride through the Royal Gorge – enjoying the sites, sounds and raw power of our lead locomotive.
After your ride, but before you depart the grounds, visit the gift shop in the Santa Fe Depot to pick up your goodie bag, including a hat, coffee mug, sticker and special photo folio.
The thrill of a lifetime!
There’s nothing like the beauty and raw power of being up-close-and-personal with a locomotive. Enjoy the ride of a lifetime upfront with our engineer in the cab, a very special place to take in one-of-a-kind views of the Royal Gorge.
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience our meticulously renovated locomotives, among the finest in the world! You’ll sit alongside the engineer, takiing in the stunning views and learning fascinating facts and history about the Royal Gorge and this historic Route through the Colorado Rockies. Guests remain in the Engineers cab throughout the journey!
Ride with the Engineer guests must be at least 13 years old and minors between the ages of 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult. Guests must also be able to climb steep stairs (17 inch height per step) comfortably and safely. Close-toed shoes and long pants are required by all. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page for additional important details.
Royal Gorge Route Rolling Stock
Finest historic rolling stock in the world
- 6 locomotives: 2 F units from the 50’s, 1 GP from the 60’s, and 3 SD-40’s built in the 50’s rebuilt twice now with rebuild dates of 1969
- 2 power cars, 8001 and 15462 “baby gen”
- 8 dome cars: 5 Budd 6 locomotives total, 2 F units roughly from the 50’s, 1 GP from the 60’s? And 3 SD-40’s built in the 50’s rebuilt twice now with rebuild dates of 1969
- 8 dome cars total, 5 budd (4 kitchen, 1 bar) 2 Pullman (both bar), and 1 business class half dome (Sierra Hotel)
- All other passenger cars are Can-Cars: 3 coach, 4 bar cars, 1 dining/parlor cars (all built in the 1950s)
- Open Air Cars: 3
- Kitchen Cars: 2
403 Specifications:
Locomotive Type: EMD F7A
Build Date: November 1949
Original Number: CNW 4079C
Weight: 247,300 Pounds (Approx. 123 Tons)
Length: 50 ft. 8 in.
Height: 15 ft.
Tractive Effort (in Pounds of Force): 56,500 lbf maximum at 25% power / 40,000 lbf Continuous
Horsepower: 1,500
Prime Mover: EMD 567 (2-Stroke V16 Diesel, roots blown aspiration)
The 403 (“A”) and 1503 (“B”) were finally removed from storage in early February of 2025. Our team worked together to get these locomotives “road worthy” after a three-year break. Through slow and steady restoration and a comprehensive tune up, we're able to periodically get this gorgeous engine back on the tracks.
1503 Specifications:
Locomotive Type: EMD F7B (Cab-less, or “booster” Unit)
Build Date: December 1952
Original Number: ARR 1503
Weight: 247,300 Pounds (Approx. 123 Tons)
Length: 50 ft.
Height: 15 ft.
Tractive Effort (in Pounds of Force): 56,500 lbf maximum at 25% power / 40,000 lbf Continuous
Horsepower: 1,500
Prime Mover: EMD 567 (2-Stroke V16 Diesel, roots blown aspiration)
CRRX 1503 (The “B” Unit) was built in December 1952 for the Alaska Railroad (ARR). A total of 1,463 F7B locomotives were produced by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors between 1949 and 1953.
728 Specifications:
Locomotive Type: GP-40
Build Date: Between 1967-1974
Original Number: 722 & 723
Weight:
Length:
Height:
Tractive Effort (in Pounds of Force):
Horsepower:
Prime Mover:One of eight GP-40 locomotives built for the Royal Gorge Railroad between 1967 and 1974. These locomotives, numbered 723-733, represented the most modern power the railroad would own, until its absorption into the Seaboard System in 1983, where it ran throughout the Southeastern U.S. as Seaboard System 6648 until merging with Chessie in 1986 to become the CSX Railroad Corporation.
After 6 years, 6648 was acquired for a rebuild to serve a new life hauling commuter passengers between Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia communities on the newly formed Virginia Railway Express. It was during this last rebuild that the locomotive was renumbered to V20, serving that line until late 2012 before coming to Colorado to proudly haul thousands of passengers through the majestic soaring cliffs of the Royal Gorge.
Experience
Ride with the Engineer
Details
Pricing Information
Listed prices do not include historic preservation fee.
- Starts at $249 per person
- Includes:
- Journey through the Royal Gorge
- Ride with the engineer
- Hat, tee-shirt, and photo
Please note: Pricing may vary when High Season and/or Holiday Pricing applies. Click Book Now to learn more.
Requirements
- Must be at least 13 years of age. If 18 or older, you may ride solo with the engineer. Guests who are 13 – 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult with the engineer in the cab. All guests must wear closed-toe shoes. Note: No bathroom is available throughout your Ride with the Engineer.
Dates of Service
During All Regularly Scheduled Breakfast & Lunch Train Departures
Please arrive 1 hour prior to departure.
Rules & Regulations
- No more than two (2) riders in the cab at any one time.
- Must be at least 18 years of age if riding alone, or a minimum of 13 years of age when accompanied by an adult parent or guardian.
- All cab riders must be able to stand, walk, sit and climb stairs without assistance and without the aid of an assistive device. Cab riders who are blind or deaf must be accompanied by a companion.
- Use of a digital camera for photography is permitted.
- Mobile phones must be OFF or in ‘airplane mode’.
- No self-contained breathing equipment (oxygen), and no service or emotional support animals.
- Riders must wear proper clothing (shorts, skirts, and tank tops are not permitted).
- Full length pants/jeans are required.
- No open-toed shoes (sandals, flip flops, etc.) or high heels. Guests must wear closed toed shoes.
- Cab rides may not be available on some departures, and specifically, exclude Santa Express departures.
For a full list of rules and regulations that are in effect while Riding with the Engineer, please click here.
The Fine Print
The Royal Gorge Route has a no refund policy.
Please don’t purchase a ticket with this intention. Remember, really good people are working hard to provide a wonderful trip and dining experience for you. We promise to do our best and thank you in advance for being a gracious guest.
We look forward to sharing our slice of Royal Gorge beauty with you.
For same day booking please call the reservations department at 719.276.4000
Please note that we seat in parties of 4. In the tradition of railroad fine dining, parties of 2 will most likely be seated across from another couple. Most of our guests enjoy meeting fellow rail fans. When seated with another couple, you and your guest will be seated on the same side. Larger groups will be seated in adjacent rows.
Seating is limited and trains sell out quickly, so make your reservations early.
Every effort will be made to accommodate any special dietary or physical needs. For questions about the accessibility of the train, its different classes, or if you would like to be seated with another party, please call the reservations department prior to booking a reservation on our web site.
Wheelchair Accessibility: The train only can accommodate a limited number of wheelchair patrons per each train departure. The Vista Dome is not accessible to wheelchairs. Guests must be able to climb 14 steps themselves in order to sit in the Dome Cars.
Please call Reservations if you have a wheelchair (24″maximum at base), walker, or difficulties climbing stairs. For questions about the accessibility of the train and its different classes, please call prior to booking a reservation on our website. All seating is assigned/reserved and cannot be guaranteed.Please call to book your tickets for the entire party with a wheelchair or movement impaired passenger.
Only licensed, certified service animals are allowed on the train.
The Royal Gorge Route follows restaurant health codes. Only licensed, certified service animals are allowed on the train. Any other animals, including emotional support animals, are not allowed on the train.
Call our Group Sales Line at 719.276.4000 to book the entire car for your special group.
