Presidents’ Day Weekend is a big one for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Not only is it time for the Winter Photo Train, it’s also a rare chance to ride the Goose No. 5 train — and an even rarer chance to do a photo excursion on the Goose.

Winter Photo Train

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers seasonal photo trains to allows passengers-turned-photographers and photographers-turned-passengers a chance to marry the two. The Durango train departs from downtown Durango and stops several times on the way to Cascade Canyon wye to allow passengers to disembark, set up their photo equipment and try to get the perfect shot as the train chugs past them. Of course, it stops and backs up to allow passengers to get back on.

Goose Rides

For the first time in over six decades, the Goose No.5, a former Rio Grande Southern railcar that ran between small Colorado mountain towns, will be running in winter, and it will be running this weekend on the Durango train rails. The “Galloping Goose” was a new, smaller, more efficient rail vehicle developed during the Great Depression. All the “geese” were cobbled together from old automobiles — mostly Buicks and Pierce Arrows — and were used as smaller, gas-powered rail vehicles that provided a more economical way to haul less freight and fewer passengers. The RGS5 was originally built from a  1928 Pierce-Arrow limousine body and running gear and was rebuilt in 1946-47 with a World War II surplus GMC gasoline truck engine and a Wayne Corporation school bus body.

Friday, Feb. 17

• Goose excursions will be available at 10:30 a.m. and noon.
• Night Photo Shoot at 6 p.m. at the Durango Roundhouse featuring hot locomotive and Goose No. 5.

Saturday, Feb. 18

• Goose No.5 photography excursion at 8 a.m. will travel to Cascade Canyon and will feature train run-bys and a tour of the Tacoma Power Plant.
• Night Photo Shoot at 6 p.m. at the Durango Roundhouse featuring hot locomotive and Goose No. 5.

Sunday February 19th

• The Durango train’s Winter Photo Special trip to Cascade Canyon will allow passenger to disembark at six locations to get shots of the train as it runs by. The train departs at 8 a.m., and lunch is included.
• The Goose No.5 Photo Excursion also includes six chosen locations and will feature many train run-bys because the Goose will be behind the photo train. A boxed lunch is included in the trip, which departs at 8:15 a.m.

If you’re looking for things to do over President’s Day Weekend, Durango is the place to be. And when you’re in Durango for President’s Day Weekend, the Durango Quality Inn is the play to stay! We’re one of the top-rated Durango hotels, and the Quality Inn Durango is quick trip and a straight shot north of downtown Durango and the Durango train depot. Book your room for the holiday weekend today!