First I have to write we will be shipping our small RV to the US, apart from around 4 or 5 rail journeys that will be the majority of our transport.
This adventure will not start until October 2021, Covid allowing, and should last 12 months except for a mid-way return to Europe for around 2 1/2 months. It's going to take a lot of planning, that's half of my enjoyment in travel. As it combines many different aspects of travel the planning has to start early, it could end up stretching to 25,000 miles long so we have to sort through what is most important to us. Visiting friends is top of the list followed by the wonderful parks of the US. That we may abandon up to half of our projected journeys or visits doesn't matter, we are reasonably good at at responding to changes forced on us at short notice.
That's the rough background to some of the questions raised in the many helpful answers on this thread.
Yes, it is definitely worth it. Consider taking one of the cars with historical narration. We took the car with the "first newspaperwoman of Durango" in the dress of her time who provided a wonderful commentary of the sites along the way and the history of the sites as well as the railroad. Very memorable and what with living so close to Durango, we'll be sure going again also. Same for the Cumbres and Toltec line, but we didn't have any narration along the way, just the beautiful scenery. While we took this latter line, the train actually picked up some backpackers along the way, so apparently that's another service they provide.
When we did the Durango-Silverton train, we stayed at the General Palmer Hotel which is a historical hotel right next to the train station. I think General Palmer also was active in the railroad industry back when this line was built. We enjoyed staying there and I recommend it if you decide to not camp. The Strater Hotel, another historical hotel, is also close to the train station and we visited the bar there because my sister loves historical hotels.
Historical narration, that's a good idea, and a visit to the hotels you mention.
While they have taken delivery of the diesels (bought from the Whitepass and Yukon RR in Skagway, which you may have ridden, the initial plans are to use for maintenance trains and shorter excursions to Cascade Canyon and not on the full route to Silverton. Best check wtih them if you're concerned about it and be aware of this from their website.:
"Damage to the train tracks south of Silverton are preventing the trains from going all the way to Silverton this season. The D&SNG Railroad expects to offer full service to Silverton on May 2, when the 2021 Spring/Summer season begins. To be notified when the 2021 schedule and fares are published, please call 866.675.6900 to be put on our “contact list.”
It is well worth the extra cost to ride the parlor car, Silver Vista. Great service, outstanding views, and comfortable seats.
We don't expect to arrive in Colorado until June 2022, current planning is to establish an outline of a route and what to visit while noting anything along the way that I can go back to for detail research. I expect the rail damage repairs will be completed that far ahead, but thank you for pointing that out.
Will give parlour car some thoughts too, thanks.
As I knew we would be passing close to or through Durango and had heard of the railway, it logic to ask on this forum would it be worth us stopping for a day or so. We don't usually plan this far ahead, but in Covid times many things are different.
Now a short plug for my tourist railroad but you should come and ride with me in rural Southwest Georgia. We are technically a Georgia State Park as our management is GA DNR Staff. We depart from Georgia Veterans State Park and have a nice little operation that visit's President Carter's hometown and boyhood farm.
We would both really enjoy meeting up with you and riding that line, Georgia looks like November/December 2021, does your line run that late in the year?
I know you prefer taking public transit when you are in the states so if you wanted to take the Greyhound in if you gave me enough advance notice I could drive out to the nearest Greyhound Station and drive you from there to the on property hotel, and to the train.
Part of the reason for travelling in an RV is the ability to self isolate if we need to even though we expect to be vaccinated by summer next year at the latest, and although we are big fans of Greyhound we still think that is too early to take a busy bus although we are happy with what we have seen of Amtrak's Covid measures.
I also meant to write that is a very kind offer but not required, just secure parking.