Aboard the Train
The casual grace of train travel never goes out of style. From the moment you step aboard the renovated vintage train, you are whisked back to a time of luxurious and leisurely train travel. This 3.5 hour excursion takes you on a 20-mile journey through 110 years of history.
Powerful Iron Horses
The FP7 locomotives, two of only 10 remaining in North America, are the muscle that pulls the quarter-mile length of passenger cars. The classic iron horses, built in 1953 for the Alaska Railroad, debuted on Verde Canyon Railroad tracks on March 8, 1997. The meticulously-cared-for engines received a facelift in 2019 with an updated distinctive American bald eagle motif.
Riding in Comfort
All passenger cars are climate-controlled and each one has a restroom. Comfortable seating, thoughtful décor and friendly, informative attendants add to the beauty of this remote wilderness without sacrificing the luxury of comfort. Each car has large panoramic windows and access to an open-air viewing car for 360-degree viewing and lots of fresh canyon air. The train also meets ADA requirements.
Throughout the trip, an insightful narration about the 3.5 hour, 40-mile roundtrip is paired with a great selection of classic railroad tunes selected to appeal to a wide range of musical tastes. Access to open-air viewing cars and narration are elite amenities which make our train experience unlike any other.
Choose Your Level of Comfort
Four levels of comfortable accommodations are available on Verde Canyon Railroad. Each has its own distinct amenities and comfort: Caboose, First Class, Coach and Locomotive Ride-along.
First Class
First-class passage, accommodating fewer passengers than coach, includes spacious living room-style seating near panoramic windows. Other amenities include a Champagne toast upon boarding, full-service cash-bars presenting premium liquors, service at one’s seat and a variety of complimentary appetizers.
Caboose
The exclusive caboose is designed for one private party of six or fewer adults. Its luxurious appointments include over-sized chairs, large picture windows, cupola seating for a birds-eye view, and two private outdoor viewing platforms. A personal valet pours your complimentary Champagne upon boarding and serves sumptuous freshly-prepared appetizers. Your choice of premium alcoholic beverages is available for purchase. Due to the historic nature of this car it is not ADA compliant.
Locomotive Ride-Along
Watch for this wonderful option to be back in 2021. Verde Canyon Railroad offers an exclusive opportunity for one person each day to experience a Locomotive Ride-along with seating inside the cab of a powerful railroad engine. It’s a rare chance to experience 1500 horses under the hood while riding a surge of enormous power. You’ll rub elbows with Verde Canyon Railroad’s engineer and conductor as they prepare the train for the run before having lunch at the Copper Spike Café. After the excursion, you will leave as a member of an elite guild with a photograph celebrating your day aboard an historic FP7 locomotive.
Coach Class
Coach features traditional Pullman-style seats (two seats on each side of a center aisle), the historic seating arrangement that has characterized train travel from its inception. Snacks and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages are offered for purchase throughout the trip
Open-Air Viewing Cars
All cars access open-air viewing cars equipped with shaded canopies. Outdoor attendants, well-versed in the canyon’s history, geology and wildlife, share highlights and answer questions about our wilderness adventure. Being outdoors brings you face to face with the sounds and sights of the high desert that characterizes the Verde Canyon.
