We will be using the famous and luxurious "Sierra Madre Express" passenger train set which is owned and operated by an American company with very high standards. Our all Pullman train will be made up with the following passenger cars.

• THE DIVISADERO: Built in 1949 for the Union Pacific Railroad. There are eight staterooms, with private sink, toilet and twin lower beds. This car also offers a unique open-air patio observation deck.

• THE ING. BALLESTEROS: Built in 1949 for the Union Pacific Railroad. This car has eight staterooms, with private sink, toilet and and twin lower beds.

• PATAGONIA: Built circa 1940, this is a Nickel Plate Rail sleeper that was converted to an executive car by Via Rail Canada. It ran between Chicago, Cleveland and New York. It has seven single roomettes and six double compartments with shared toilet.

• THE TUCSON: Built in 1955 for the Union Pacific Railroad. This is a dome-dining car. Used for sightseeing and serving of meals both in the dome section and downstairs.

• THE CHILE VERDE: Built in 1946 for the Great Northern " Empire Builder" and later purchased by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and has nine private roomettes for one person. Each roomette has a sink. The restroom is at one end of this car.

• THE ARIZONA: Built in 1946 for the Northern Pacific for use on the" North Coast Limited". This is a rear end observation car with bar and lounge. It has four double occupancy compartments with upper and lower berths with private sink and toilet. Also it has one drawing room with private sink and toilet.

Pullman Bedroom for two persons

Pullman Roomette for one person during the day and made up at night

DAY 1 (D) Independent arrivals in Tucson, Arizona. After hotel check-in at the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel near the airport we will have a "Get Acquainted" cocktail reception starting at 5:30pm where your tour escorts give you a brief run down of the tour and answers any questions you may have. After the reception we will have a "Welcome Dinner". If you are arriving in Tucson by auto the Double Tree Hotel will allow you to park your car at the hotel while on this tour.




Upon arrival in Tucson you will check-in to the Double Tree Reid Park Hotel



DAY 2 (B-L-D) After breakfast, passengers board a charter motor coach for a tour of Tucson and the Santa Cruz Valley. Along the way there is a photo stop at the historic San Xavier Mission and lunch at the spectacular Rio Rico Resort. We then cross the border at Nogales and board our waiting Sierra Madre Express passenger train at the former Ferrocarril del Pacifico passegner station, now operated by Ferromex. Since most all public passegner trains were discontinued by the Mexican Government several years ago our train is now the only one that uses this station. Passengers are welcome aboard with a cocktail reception. After you get settled into your private pullman sleeping rooms we will serve dinner in "The Tucson" dome dinning car as you can enjoy the sunset in the Sonora Desert. Late in the evening a stop will be made at Empalme to change crews. If you happen to be up you are welcome to stretch your legs on the station platform.





Above two photos are at the San Xavier Mission near Tucson




After boarding our train in Nogales we travel southbound through the Sonora Desert and enjoy breathtaking views of the sunset.

DAY 3 (B-L-D) Early in the morning our train will arrive at the large railroad junction of Surfrgio. This is the junction point with the Chihuahua al Pacific line, route to the Copper Canyon. Here we again change crews, directions and diesel engines. Only four axle units are allowed on the Copper Canyon line because of the sharp curves and light rail. As a general rule our train is at the Surfrgio station for a couple of hours. If you are up this early you are welcome to get off the train and stretch your legs or take some pictures. Once we depart we turn northeast and head directly towards the Sierra Madre Mountains. For the early risers you can enjoy a spectacular sunrise from the dome car as the massive mountain range looms ahead of us. After you have your cup of coffee feel free to step outside on the open platform of "The Divisadero" which is now the rear car of our train and smell the fresh mountain air. Soon breakfast will be served as we enter the rugged part of our journey, said to be one of the most dramatic train rides in the western hemisphere, and considered to be an engineering marvel which took almost 100 years to build. This line was finally completed in 1961with 87 tunnels and 35 bridges. By late morning we will be approaching the famous loops at Temoris where the railroad climbs1,100 feet in just a few miles with several loops, tunnels and bridges, including one long tunnel that does a complete 180 degree turn inside the mountain to gain altitude. This is totally awesome railroading! Remember, besides the dome car you can step outside on the open air car and we will also have the vestibules open so that you can view the passing spectacular scenery, remote Mexican villages, waterfalls, rivers, sheer rock cliffs towering some 4,000 feet above our train and the wildlife. As we travel higher into the mountains the Tarahumara Indians will greet our train at each station stop. At the Bahuichivo station we transfer to buses for a 45 minute ride to the charmng and very remote village of Cerocahui and check-in to the colonial-style Hotel Mision. You will have time to stroll around the plaza or visit the nearby mission church before returning to the hotel for a margarita reception and entertainment preceding dinner.





THE TEMORIS LOOPS

One of the most important engineering projects in Mexico was the building of the Chihuahua Pacific Railway, which was inaugurated on November 24, 1961 with the purpose of promoting the Copper Canyon region and giving Chihuahua an access to the Pacific ocean. This rail route runs from Ojinaga on the Texas border to Topolobampo on the Ocean, a distance of 588 miles which includes 99 tunnels covering 133 miles and cresting the Continental Divide near Creel at 8,033 feet. At the Temoris Loops one of the tunnels makes a 180 degree curve on a 2.5% grade inside of the mountains in order to climb the cliff.

Here we see a westbound passenger train coming down the 2.5% Temoris Loops deep in the Sierra Madre Mountains. You can see both the west and east portal of the same tunnel that makes a 180 degree loop inside of the mountain.

The above photos are taken on the unique Temoris Loops.

HOTEL MISION
Village of Cerocahui

Named in honor of an impressive 300 year old Jesuit mission in the picturesque village of Cerocahui, the Hotel Mision is located in the high fertile river valley of apple orchards and vineyards surrounded by the Sierra Madre. This lovely hotel has 42 charming rooms with wood-burning stoves. You can stroll through the lush courtyards and the adjoining vineyards which produces table wines for the hotel. Then you can warm yourself before a huge stone fireplace in the lobby, enjoy a meal in the dining room, or relax in the bar.



DAY 4 : (B-L-D) After breakfast we will take you on a tour to the upper rim of the Urique Canyon and what is considered the most impressive view in the Copper Canyon region. This is called Gallego Lookout and the Urique is one of the deepest canyons in the world. We return to the Hotel El Mission in time for lunch. After lunch and check-out we return to the Bahuichivo Staiton and reboard our waiting charter train to continue our eastbound trek up higher into the Sierra Madre mountains on 2.5% grades. We will arrive at Divisadero late afternoon which is at 8,000 feet and right on the rim of the fantastic Copper Canyon. We then transfer to the Hotel Posada Mirador which is built along the rim of the canyon. Once you get checked-in you can walk the many rim trails and enjoy the breathtaking views or you can step out on your private deck suspended right over the Copper Canyon and relax and enjoy the sunset in the crisp mountain air with the strong aroma of sweet pine trees. Copper Canyon is three times larger and 300 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Your view extends over 100 miles. Then join us for a reception and entertainment by the Tarahumara Indians, followed by dinner.



The above photo is taken at the spectacular Gallego Outlook

HOTEL POSADA BARRANCAS MIRADOR

We will spend two spectacular nights at the Hotel Posada Barrancas Mirador which is poised like an eagle's nest at the canyon's edge near the highest point of the canyon. Each luxurious room has a private terrace where you can enjoy one of the finest views of the canyon. Decorated in a style reflecting the Tarahumara Indian culture, this hotel has a bar, lounge, restaurant and gift shop. Here you will be able to meet some of the unique Tarahumara people, who will entertain guests with their traditional dances and games. From the hotel you can wander down the many trails running along the rim of the canyon or take the path going into the canyon to visit an inhabited Tarahumaran cave dwelling located in the cliffs. The sunsets and sunrises from your room and private terrace is breathtaking.

DAY 5 (B-L-D) Following breakfast at the hotel we will reboard our train at the Divisadero station for the two hour ride to Creel, heart of the Tarahumara Indian Empire. Also our train will run around "El Lazo" where the tracks must make a complete 360 loop in order to gain elevation. At Creel we will take you on a tour of the Indian Reservation then back to town to shop for the great native handcrafts in the many stores. In the afternoon we ride our train back to Divisadero for a 2nd night at the Hotel Posada Mirador.

BARRANCAS DEL COBRE
***COPPER CANYON OF MEXICO***













DAY 6 (B-L-D) After breakfast we will take you on a short local tour of the countryside. You are also welcome to hike the many trails running along the rim of the canyon. After lunch we depart from the Hotel Posada Mirador and reboard our charter train at the Divisadero station and start the journey westbound down the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains. In the evening we will have a grand "Farewell Dinner" onboard as our train heads north back towards the Arizona border.







DAY 7 (B-L) Sunrise will greet us in the Northern Sonora Desert as our train travels north towards the US border. Arrival back in Nogales will be in the afternoon. We will transfer back to the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel for check-in with estimated arrival early evening. Please note that because of possible late running trains and delays at the Mexican/USA border we can only estimate the arrival back in Tucson.

DAY 8 (B) Enjoy a leisure breakfast at the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel before you check out and head home.