Anybody done this?
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Some time back we did. One long summer vacation we rode both the Durango, and the Cumbres and Toltec further north and then the Copper Canyon one down around El Paso. Copper Canyon itself is spectacular and different landscape in its own way and from that standpoint the trip is worthwhile, but I remember not being terribly impressed with the locos or "museum" aspect of it compared to the other two. The train was pulled by diesels, though, and I like steam best, so maybe it was just me . . .
My uncle used to be a travel agent in Abilene, TX, and he would often take trips to personally inspect travel packages that agencies offered. One such inspection was a trip in 1974 (I think) beginning in Ojinaga, Mexico (across the border from Presidio, TX). I was invited to join the tour since uncle knew I was a rail.
Note: I don't think any trains leave from Ojinaga today...the trips now begin at Juarez (El Paso, TX).
It was a day trip from OJ to Chihuahua on Fiat motor coaches. After a few days of site seeing, we boarded the Vista Train for a trip over the Sierra Madre range and on to Los Mochis near the Gulf of California. That train featured a Budd dome car and round end obs. You probably know the stats on tunnels and trestles for that stretch...it is amazing.
After touring Los Mochis and Topolobampo, we took another train back to Creel and Barrancas del Cobre (Copper Canyon) to stay for several days. It is an outstanding place of beauty. Then we returned to America on a Pullman type train. We were down there so long we never got the news that Richard Nixon had resigned from the presidency.
Recently during a weekend escape to Alpine, TX, the local newspaper featured an ad for vacation packages to Copper Canyon. That portion of Mexico would really like to regain the tourism it once had. But, my opinion is that is still not safe to travel in northern Mexico. I grew up vacationing in that entire region, I am completely in tune with Mexican culture, and I am more partial to those people than my own race, but I will not set foot across the border because of the violence that the current drug culture has caused. The US State Department may still have advisories against travel to the area in question...I haven't checked.
Thanks, Rob Leese...too bad for Mexico, but does not sound safe to visit now.
