Seating Options

All passenger cars are covered. Some have windows that open and close and others have open sides. Enclosed cars have padded seats, open sided cars have wooden seats. All seats are the same price.

Seating is bench style, with two people per seat. There is an aisle down the center of the car with a bench seat on each side. The seating area per person is an average of  17.5" wide. If you prefer more spacious seating, please purchase two seats. If you have an odd number in your party and do not wish to share a seat with someone else, you may purchase an additional ticket.

The following enclosed cars are utilized all season:

Edward Gillette

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that open & close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • First car in the lineup as you leave Hill City, so it is very close to the engine (and the whistle!). Last car leaving Keystone
  • Rows 6 & 7 have a glass divider separating them, which makes those rows unable to face the opposite direction. Parties of 4 should sit in Rows 5 & 6 and 7 & 8

Blue Bird

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that open & close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • This car is designed with mobility assistance features such as wheelchair seating and a vertical lift for those who need additional assistance boarding. Rows 1-2 are specifically reserved for families with wheelchairs--choose seat 1A or 1D for wheelchair if unable to transfer to a regular seat. Wheelchair seats are available on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations are required to ensure availability.

Oreville

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that open & close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • Center of the car lineup in both directions

Battle Creek

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that open and close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • In the summer, this car is the last leaving Hill City and the first car directly behind the locomotive leaving Keystone. If you want to close look at the engine from Keystone to Hill City, sit in rows 13-15

The following open-sided observation cars are used during the peak summer (approximately mid-June through Labor Day weekend)

Redfern*

  • Covered car, open on the sides with plastic windows that drop down in case of inclement weather
  • Wooden seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • Located in the middle of the car line up going both directions
  • Utilized for summer departures

* Please note, seating assignments cannot be changed the day you arrive due to a change in weather. Choose an open-sided car knowing it could rain the day you ride!

Harney Canyon*

  • Covered car, open on the sides with plastic windows that drop down in case of inclement weather
  • Wooden seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • This car has the lowest window sills, which makes it a nice ride for families with small children who would like to see out
  • Third to last car leaving Hill City, third car to leave Keystone
  • Utilized for summer departures

* Please note, seating assignments cannot be changed the day you arrive due to a change in weather. Choose an open-sided car knowing it could rain the day you ride!

Mystic*

  • Covered car, open on the sides with plastic windows that drop down in case of inclement weather
  • Wooden seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • Second to last car leaving Hill City, second car when leaving Keystone
  • Utilized for summer departures

* Please note, seating assignments cannot be changed the day you arrive due to a change in weather. Choose an open-sided car knowing it could rain the day you ride!

The following enclosed cars are utilized in the cooler months on either end of the peak summer season (May, September-October) and on our Holiday Express runs.

Keystone

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that open & close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • Center of the car lineup
  • Used for special events and in the fall & winter

Rochford

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that open and close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • Utilized for special events and in the fall and winter
  • Second to last car leaving Hill City

Hilyo

  • Fully enclosed car with windows that partially open and close
  • Padded seats that are able to face one another if you choose
  • It is a Drovers car or our “little red Caboose”
  • Utilized for special events and in the fall and winter
  • Last car leaving Hill City, first car in the lineup leaving Keystone