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The Rail Runner Express is a fairly new rail service linking Albuquerque and other stations to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
We had attended the 50th International Balloon Fiesta so, to find a hotel room, we stayed north of the field at Bernalillo and boarded the express at the Downtown Bernalillo station below.
It's a comfortable ride. On the way up we shared table seating with friendly visitors planning like us to spend a day wandering around Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe Depot station is the end of the line. We headed for downtown.
Close to the station is the Santa Fe Railyard where you might see a performance.
Here's a short video clip from my YouTube Channel (SuttonTravels).
Branson Scenic Railway is a leisurely ride through the Ozarks.
After arriving, we picked up our pre-ordered tickets 11:30 tickets inside the depot then waited outside on the crowded front deck.
Our grandson finished eating lunch--you are not allowed to bring food or drink on the train.
You can sit anywhere that is open. We were surprised to find a dome coach open. Perhaps it was because the air conditioning doesn't do so well in the three glass-topped coaches. But the views great.
The photo below is from the domed coach facing south as we head toward Arkansas on a sunny late Spring day in June.
The short video clip below is from the window above. It should give you some sense of the scenery and the journey in case you are thinking about going. You will hear some old music in the background, which attempts to add 1940s ?) ambience.
You can explore the train between the end diesel locomotives. In this room, there was only one chair.
At the end of the journey, people mill around to take photos. I was surprised at the length of the train. Although the outside waiting area was crowded, there was plenty of room on the train.
The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The website says there are two different journeys. On this one we headed south for about 40 minutes before returning.
The Ozark Zephyr is a diesel-powered locomotive. The passenger coaches (or cars) are restored and date from the 1930s to the 1960s. If you want the best air conditioning, it felt cooler in the cars with blue or red leather seating--no guarantee that will be true on a future ride.
Some tips
Book online if you can. Tickets are numbered and you board by the number on your ticket.
In 2022, you had to have a paper ticket to board. So, even if you purchased online, you still have to enter the station to collect your tickets.
You can buy tickets inside the depot if available but your number will be higher than those ahead of you.
The station is small. Although there are two restrooms, the line was long and slow when we were there.
Consider mealtimes. We booked the 11:30 am departure. They are very strict about not permitting food and drink on the train. There is a small snack bar on the train with limited options. Cookies were $1.10. You can buy some drinks for $2.00.
Refunds are limited. We purchased tickets the night before but I can't say if that is a good idea.
They do travel on rainy days.
Parking is across the street in a gravel lot north of the station. There is no additional charge for parking.
If you want to eat before your trip and don't have time for a sit-down restaurant, there are fast food restaurants west of the station.
There are restrooms on the train. The toilet stalls are very small. There was soap and water and a few paper towels. There were sanitizing bottles throughout the train.
Smoking and drinking alcohol are not permitted.
They announced that no guns were permitted--including concealed weapons--but I did not see them check to see if people had a concealed weapon.
And other notes from June 2022
Most of the passengers were senior citizens. Some children were with the seniors and there were a few families.
Those using a walker or wheelchair board first.
I noticed one conductor and one woman who gave a brief commentary during the first let of the journey.
