pjv

We will be in Durango June 5-8th and want to take the Durango-Silverton train trip. My questions are:
Is the open Knight Sky Car better than a closed up car? It has a clear roof, but wondering about it being too cold, windy or sooty?
Do you recommend the train ride up and the bus on return? There doesn't seem to be a difference in price.
Thanks.

DebitNM

There is indeed soot. It can also be cool that early in June. I would not sit in an open car. What if it rains?

It doesn't matter which direction you take the train or bus.

If you go from Durango TO Silverton on train, sit on the right side of car.
IF you go from Silverton TO Durango on train, sit on the left side.

sludick

DebitNM has pretty much answered your questions.

My add-in - we took the train up to Silverton and back by bus. By the time we spent all that time on the train - it IS great, just that one way was enough - and time in Silverton, we were tired. Taking the bus back was a relief.

My other suggestion is to take the tour of the Roundhouse (where the train comes in at Durango). I found it very interesting, and it added to my overall experience.

Oh - don't wear white, even if you do not choose the open air car. Little bits of soot can find their way in at odd times.

fmpden

And I would advise against wearing contacts. The soot and cinders produced by the engine can cause a lot of problems.

OHrowver

I highly recommend taking the historic narration car. It is enclosed but the historic reinactors are fantastic! You learn so much of the history of this railroad and the people both famous and infamous from that time in Colorado history. Otherwise, it could be pretty boring just riding a train for a day. Two years ago I took the train up and back and we had two different actors - one played Chief Ouray's wife Chippeta and the other played the daughter of the railroad owner.