Summer is short in the Colorado Rockies, so the Durango train makes sure to pack each season with special events. Any trip on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a fun ride no matter when you take it. A historic steam-powered engine huffs and puffs as it pulls restored passenger cars over San Juan Mountain passes and climbs cliffs through the Animas Canyon.

A ride on the Durango train is always fun — but it is even more fun with blues, brews, wine, dinosaurs and fall foliage. Here  are some upcoming special Durango train trips and events that you don’t want to miss.

Durango Wine and Rails | June 11, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1 (Oct. 1 is sold out)

Sip and sample wine from several Colorado wineries on board while chatting with expert sommeliers and taking in the wilderness views. Select wineries from around Colorado will provide four wines to sample. Wines sampled may include Chandonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Tempranillo, Rose, and Pinot Noir.

Durango Brew Train | June 12, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2

Similar to Durango Wine and Rails, the Durango Brew Train will feature beers from Colorado craft breweries. On board, master brewers will walk passengers through a flight of beer (a light snack will be included) and talk about the brewing process. The train will stop at the Cascade Canyon Wye for two hours, where passenger can disembark and enjoy more samples from six breweries, take in live music, nosh on food and take a stroll. Desserts and coffee will be served on the return trip.

Dinosaur Train | June 18, 19, 25 and 26

Whereas the wine, brew and blues trains are fun for grownups, the Dinosaur Train is all about the kids. During the 30-minute train ride up, the smallest passengers can enjoy music, singalongs and snacks based on the PBS TV show, Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train. When the train stops at the Nature Trackers Adventure Area, everybody will have 90 minutes to enjoy fossil dig sites, dinosaur education, live music, a live animal show, face painting, temporary tattoos and rides on the Raptor-Tractor. And don’t miss getting a photo with the star of the show: Buddy! Kids will also receive a Buddy Bag and an Adventure Game Card.

Durango Blues Train | Aug. 12-13

The annual Durango Blues Train features two evenings of live blues music as six vintage cars become live music concert venues. Passengers can meander from car to car to enjoy the music and dance the night away. The August lineup isn’t set yet, but to give you an idea of the quality music you can expect, the June Blues Train features Ben Miller Band, Moreland & Arbuckle, Eagle Eye Williamson, Cary Morin, The Bones of J. R. Jones, and Brian Keith Wallen. During the 3.5-hour trip, passengers can also grab some wine or beer from the bar while taking in the views —

Railrocker Festival | Aug. 18-21

Never heard of the Railrocker Festival before? That’s because it’s never happened before. Join the Durango train for the inaugural Railrocker Festival this August. The festival is a combination of two events that both have a long history of celebrating Durango and Silverton’s railroad and mining cultures. For years, Silverton’s Hardrocker Holiday has showcased the work of hardrock mining, and since 1999, the Durango & Silverton railway has celebrated all things railroad during Railfest. This year, the two are merging to create the three-day Railrocker Festival. The event will feature mining and drilling competitions, special train events including a Champagne Brunch Train, Murder Mystery Train, Evening Cocktail Train and Presidential Train as well as live entertainment in downtown Durango and in Silverton.

Fall Photographer’s Trains | Sept. 24 and 25

The Fall Photographer’s Trains are hugely popular and sell out every year. The train treks into the autumn wilderness of the San Juan National Forest where passengers will get off the train and get ready for the perfect fall-and-train photo op. The train will do several run-bys — back up and chug past the photography line — to give photographers plenty of chances to take their best shot. The trains highlight the best of Durango fall colors and fall foliage.

No matter what train you board, be sure to get your tickets to these special Durango train events well in advance so the train doesn’t leave the station without you. And while you’re visiting Durango, be sure to book your room with us at the Quality Inn Durango. We are less than 10 minutes from the downtown Durango train depot. Stay with us at the Durango Quality Inn to get a great start on your trip!