From: roakes@nyx.cs.du.edu (Rick Oakes)
Subject: Re: Train to Winter Park
Followup-To: rec.skiing
Summary: two trains
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Keywords: train Winter_Park
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 19:12:30 GMT


Various people have written:

>I heard there was a train from Denver to Winter Park.  Is this true?

Yes.  In fact, there are two trains, an Amtrak train that runs 
every day, and a Rio Grande train that runs on weekends from
mid-December to early April.

The Amtrak train (actually two trains that are hooked together
for that leg) shows on Amtrak schedules as the California
Zephyr and the Desert Wind.  The California Zephyr runs from
Chicago to San Francisco (maybe Oakland) via Denver, Ogden,
and Reno.  The Desert Wind separates from the Zephyr in Ogden
and runs to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.  Either of these is
fine for arrival the day before, and leaving after, a long
stay, but not for a day trip.  West bound, they arrive
in Winter Park around 1 PM, and East bound they arrive in
the evening.  Contact Amtrak for any further prices/info.

The Rio Grande Ski Train (tm) leaves every Saturday and
Sunday morning PROMPTLY at 7:15.  Do NOT be late, you 
will probably miss the train.  It takes just over
two hours to get to Winter Park.  If you have gotten
your lift ticket at the supermarket, or bought it on 
the train, you can go directly to the lifts and ski.
The return trip leaves (again, PROMPTLY) at either
4:15 or 4:30 (forget which), and takes about the
same travel time.  Cost is $25 for coach, $40 for first 
class; group discounts are available.  Phone number for
information is (303) 296-4754.

>[Story or a previous train ride from Indiana]:
>Otherwise, the train was comfortable and the ride pleasant. Food was ok and
>the seats much, much better for sleeping that airplanes. The ride is 
>scheduled at less than 24 hrs if no mishaps occur (it seems they always do).
>The ride from Denver to WP is spectacular for scenery; fortunately much of
>the ride thru the plains happens in the dark.

>In a couple weeks we are leaving from Indianapolis on Amtrak to Winter
>Park!  We leave Saturday at 10:10am and arrive Winter Park Sunday at 
>11:35am.  I believe the 11:35am arrival is a daily train from Denver.

>I took the ski train once.  I, personally, did not care for it.  Problems
>included:
>  - must pay to park at Union station

Not necessarily true; there are free lots and spaces nearby if you come
early; and the cost for the station lot is only around $1-$1.50.

>  - scenery is pretty boring

I guess if you take the train almost every weekend (as some
people do), it could get boring; for the occassional 
traveler, it is rather spectacular  IMHO.

>  - train is slow

Travel time to the area is about the same as driving; the 
return trip can be faster than driving, as traffic on I-70
is often stop-and-go from the I-70/US 40 junction to the
bottom of Floyd Hill.

>  - go through long tunnel to get to Winter Park -- on the getting there
>    trip, the train is really pumping out diesel exhaust and the fumes are
>    pretty noxious

I didn't notice them as THAT bad, but some people are more sensitive
to diesel fumes than others.

>  - you get up to W.P. at 9-9:30 and must be at the train station to
>    go home before the lifts close

This is what held me back for several years; but as I have gotten
older, I find myself quitting before the lifts close anyway, so
I did take it last year; I didn't have a real problem except 
planning ahead to make sure I was back at the base area in time-
the train, like time, waits for no man     :-).

Each person has to decide based on their own needs, but if 
driving mountain passes or fighting stop-and-go traffic
bothers you, or you like the ability to get up and walk
around along the way, you may want to consider the train.

I haven't heard any publicity for them this year, but for
the past 6 or 7 years, there have also been buses from Denver
going to Winter Park every day, and other areas as well on
Thursday through Sunday.  I haven't tried them this year,
but the phone number for years has been (303) 398-LIFT.
I can get the info if there is interest on the net.

Hope some of this helps.

Rick Oakes				CompuServe:  70475,333

	rick@reo.alphai.org     
	or   roakes@nyx.cs.du.edu
--
Rick Oakes				CompuServe:  70475,333

	rick@reo.alphai.org     
	or   roakes@nyx.cs.du.edu