Stargazing and Nighttime Rail Journeys within the US

I’ll always remember my first stargazing prepare trip a number of years in the past aboard the Sky Railway’s ‘Stargazer’ service in my hometown, Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a darkish sky knowledgeable and a self-professed railway nerd, nothing might delight me greater than combining two of my passions—stargazing and trains—in a single good night exercise. We boarded the prepare on the outdated depot, initially opened in 1880 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and now refurbished within the vibrant Railyard Arts District in downtown Santa Fe. With my robust welcome margarita in hand from the onboard bar, I stood on the open-air platform automotive whereas we slowly trundled out of city away from town lights, the night time sky gently revealing itself overhead.

In an empty patch of desert, the prepare got here to a halt, and we stood transfixed, watching the celebrities twinkle overhead and making an attempt to identify Venus earlier than she dipped under the western horizon for the night time.

In latest years, many heritage railroads and scenic prepare operators throughout the U.S. have began operating devoted nighttime prepare providers themed round stargazing, the complete moon, astronomy, darkish skies, and nocturnal wildlife. You can rattle by the desert on a telescope-equipped darkish sky prepare in New Mexico, spot fireflies aboard a Thirties diesel locomotive, or pedal your individual moonlit railbike in a California redwood forest.

Whether you need to stargaze with a professional astronomer, drink one thing robust below a full moon, or just benefit from the romance of a historic prepare trip after darkish, these are a few of the greatest stargazing and nighttime prepare experiences operating.

Cumbres & Toltec’s Dark Sky Train, New Mexico and Colorado

Built in 1880 to haul silver ore by the San Juan Mountains, the narrow-gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad launched its new Dark Sky Train excursions between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado in 2025. The line operates 5 unique, restored steam locomotives and Eighties railcars, together with an open-air gondola carriage with views of the sky. The route crosses distant mountain terrain over Cumbres Pass, the place it intersects with the Continental Divide Trail, and throughout the day, through-hikers generally hop on and trip into Chama for provides and an evening off the path. After sundown, the prepare turns into a rolling observatory, with laser astronomy periods led by guides from DarkSky New Mexico, and what seems to be the most important number of astronomy tools on board any stargazing prepare within the U.S., together with Dobsonian telescopes, mounted binoculars, Seestar sensible telescopes.

Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight Adventures, Arizona

Verde Canyon Railroad’s Saturday Starlight Adventures run from March by December aboard a quarter-mile-long prepare powered by two uncommon 1953 FP7 locomotives initially constructed for the Alaska Railroad — there are solely 10 left in North America. Departing from Clarkdale close to the Cottonwood International Dark Sky Community, this can be a four-hour round-trip journey that follows a distant rail line in-built 1912 by the red-rock Verde Canyon. Along the way in which, you cross historic trestles, trundle alongside the Verde River, and cross by a 734-foot tunnel inaccessible by automotive. Every passenger will get first-class seating, a charcuterie tray, champagne or glowing cider, and entry to adjoining open-air viewing vehicles for stargazing. Summer departures additionally provide the Grape Train Escape wine-tasting improve, which incorporates onboard Arizona wine tastings and a memento glass.

This 12 months, the railroad just lately opened Taawaki Inn, a brand new boutique resort subsequent to the depot with views towards Tuzigoot National Monument and Sedona. A “Room & Ride” package deal combines in a single day stays with first-class prepare tickets, breakfast, lunch, and drinks onboard.

Nevada Northern Railway Star Trains, Nevada

The Nevada Northern Railway runs nighttime astronomy trains out of Ely within the east-central a part of the state. This is likely one of the best-preserved railroad complexes from the American West’s copper-mining period, based in 1905 and now designated a National Historic Landmark. There are two choices: the summer-only “Star Train” and the year-round “Sunset, Stars, and Champagne” prepare. The summer time Star Train carries Dark Sky Rangers from close by Great Basin National Park, who information you thru constellations and celestial objects because the prepare climbs above Steptoe Valley to Star Flat, a distant, extraordinarily darkish viewing web site the place telescopes are arrange. The “Sunset, Stars, and Champagne” tour gives panoramic views of the sundown, plus champagne or glowing cider, and naked-eye stargazing on the return trip after darkish.

Santa Fe Sky Railway Stargazer, New Mexico

Santa Fe Sky Railway was co-founded by Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin and runs themed prepare journeys on restored midcentury railcars. The nighttime Stargazer train departs from the historic Santa Fe Depot and travels south to the darkish skies of the Galisteo Basin, returning in round three hours. It’s one of many few within the nation that has astronomers on board to information you thru the constellations as you journey. Plus, there’s reside music on board and a champagne toast. There are classic indoor carriages which are heated and comfy, however the open-air flatcar is the perfect place to see the unobstructed sky.

Skunk Train Moonlight Railbikes, California

California’s Skunk Train runs a number of nighttime redwood experiences out of Fort Bragg and Willits, however essentially the most uncommon is its Moonlight Railbikes to Glen Blair Bar Junction. Rather than a standard prepare, this can be a passenger-powered, electric-assist railbike that you simply pedal down tracks that weave by redwood forests alongside Pudding Creek. The trip begins at 6 pm, and also you arrive on the off-grid Glen Blair Bar in time for the celebrities to come back out, the hearth pits to be lit, and to seize a drink and make some s’mores with the equipment included within the trip. The return trip takes place below moonlight. Skunk Train additionally runs extra conventional nighttime prepare rides to Glen Blair Bar utilizing restored Twenties Southern Pacific coach vehicles and an open-air flatcar in-built 1947 for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Allentown & Auburn Railroad Firefly Express, Pennsylvania

The Allentown & Auburn Railroad’s Firefly Express runs on choose July evenings by the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside aboard classic railcars pulled by historic diesel locomotives from the previous Reading Railroad. Departing from Kutztown at 8 p.m., the prepare travels roughly eight miles by Mennonite farmland and alongside quiet rural stretches timed to coincide with peak firefly season, when hundreds of lightning bugs flicker throughout the fields at nightfall. Midway by the 90-minute to two-hour trip, the prepare pauses on the railroad’s picnic grove for ice cream and sundown views earlier than returning by the darkening countryside after dusk.

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Moonlight Excursion

The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad’s adults-only Moonlight Excursion is a three-hour journey alongside Tillamook Bay and the Pacific coast aboard the 101-year-old McCloud River Railroad #25 steam locomotive. Departing from Garibaldi round sundown, the prepare travels north to Wheeler earlier than returning below night skies, with open-air vehicles for coastal views and moongazing. On board, you possibly can pattern native beer from Pelican Brewing, wine from Nehalem Bay Winery, and charcuterie bins or croissant sandwiches ready by Twin’s Ranch Cafe. Every rider additionally will get a complimentary candy deal with halfway by the journey.

Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad Harvest Moon Special, Pennsylvania

The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad’s once-a-year Harvest Moon Special turns a brief heritage rail tour by rural Pennsylvania right into a moonwatching occasion timed to the annual harvest moon. The prepare consists of an open statement automotive that permits you to stand for the journey and benefit from the sundown and night time sky. On the return journey, the crew stops on the Lehigh/Berks County line beside an open discipline with unobstructed japanese views to attend for the moon to rise. After the 45-minute trip, you come back to Kempton Station for refreshments and reside ragtime, stride piano, and early jazz carried out by the Overboard Stride Society within the out of doors patio space.

Catskill Mountain Railroad Twilight Limited, New York

On summer time evenings within the Hudson River Valley, the Catskill Mountain Railroad runs its 90-minute Twilight Limited prepare by farmland, forests, and creek valleys north of Kingston whereas native musicians play onboard. The route follows a part of a historic rail hall that when linked Catskills resorts and industries with the Hudson Valley, crossing Esopus Creek on the restored C9 Bridge earlier than climbing into the woods of Hurley Mountain because the sky darkens. You can keep indoors in enclosed heritage coaches or head for the canopied open-air flatcars, that are the perfect place to look at the celebrities come out on the return journey to Kingston.

Evening Drink and Dine Trains

Some nighttime rail experiences focus much less on stargazing and extra on the environment of touring after darkish. In New York’s Adirondack foothills, the Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway’s Moonlight Moonshine Express runs night departures by the higher Hudson River valley aboard classic railcars pulled by Fifties Alco locomotives, with New York whiskey, bourbon, and cocktail tastings served onboard and open-air vehicles for views of the river after darkish. Across the nation, the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Vista Dome Dinner rolls by California wine nation in restored 1915 Pullman railcars, together with a glass-domed upper-level eating automotive the place you’re served a multi-course dinner with Napa wine pairings because the solar units and the celebrities come out over the vineyards outdoors.

Sunset Trains

Some railroads time their departures not for stars however for the golden hour, turning sundown into the principle occasion. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Evening Ridge Runner departs Chattanooga with restored passenger vehicles from the Forties–60s, passing by the pre–Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel earlier than ending with a reside turntable demonstration at East Chattanooga Depot because the solar goes down. You’ll additionally get the historical past of the world and the railroad throughout the 6-mile round-trip journey. In West Virginia, Potomac Eagle’s Sunset Trough prepare service follows the South Branch Potomac River by the Trough—a slim canyon accessible primarily by river or rail that’s identified for its bald eagle inhabitants, and you could spot one whereas on board. Meals are served on board, and there are open-air gondola vehicles for sky-viewing and wildlife watching throughout these lengthy golden-hour views throughout Sycamore Bridge and beneath glowing canyon partitions.

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Megan Eaves is a journey author and advocate for darkish skies based mostly in London. She is the editor of DarkSky International’s quarterly journal and her writing seems in National Geographic, Afar, The Times, The Telegraph, the BBC, and Lonely Planet, the place she was additionally a employees editor for a few years. Her new e-book, Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness, recounts her journeys to expertise darkness and the night time sky all over the world.