All aboard for a ride on Santa Fe’s historic Sky Railway

By Cheri Sicard
Railroad buffs visiting the Santa Fe, NM, area are in for a treat. The Sky Railway offers a variety of experiences on their historic SkyTrain, from scenic sunset and star gazing rides to special events such as burlesque nights, flamenco nights, wine tasting and beer tasting rides, history rides, Native American dance rides, and more. Part of the train’s mission is to promote local talents like musicians, dancers, actors, and other performers.

If you are a true train buff, you might even opt for a special ride in the engine cab!

Even though the cars all look pretty much the same on the inside, some things about this historic train bear no resemblance to how it looked back when Santa Fe first became a destination for artists, tourists, wealthy Eastern eccentrics, archaeologists, and others seeking adventure and its mixture of cultures, spectacular mountains, and exquisite light.

These changes are mainly on the train’s exterior, which these days is adorned with colorful and fanciful murals by artist Joerael Numina.

However, no murals adorned the exterior back when the train was part of the Santa Fe Southern Railroad that opened up the wonders of Santa Fe to the world and put the city on the international map.

The Oppenheimer connection

Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy rode the line.

So did many of the scientists who joined the Manhattan Project. After traveling incognito on the train, waiting cars were ready to whisk them away to the then-secret city of Los Alamos.

The train reprised that role in the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, which filmed some scenes on it.

On a recent Sunset Serenade ride, a Sky Railway employee walking by stopped to inquire if I was having a good time. After replying in the affirmative he asked, “Did they tell you about the seats you and your friend are sitting in?” I answered that “they” had not.

Almost as if it was a secret, he bent down to tell me those are the exact seats used to film the train scene in the movie Oppenheimer. As I had just seen the film, I remembered the scene well. Why the secrecy, I don’t know. Maybe he did not want others to feel badly that they were not sitting in the famous seats?

The Sky Railway: A Phoenix from the ashes

It is fair to say that without the Santa Fe Southern Railroad connection, Santa Fe would not be what it is today. You can find a more extensive history of this railroad at El Palacio, a site that documents the art, history, and culture of the Southwest. I love their description of the railroad: “A historical portal and microcosm of New Mexico history.”

In 2020, what is now the Sky Railway was born from the ashes of the Santa Fe Southern. Local residents stepped up to save this important piece of Southwest history, including author George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame.

Deeply involved in his city, Martin also co-created the immersive art experience Meow Wolf, which now has several locations around the country but started in Santa Fe.

He does more than just lend his name to the Sky Railway project. Martin also leads its creative development team, crafting the unique lineup of eclectic and unusual experiences available on the train’s calendar.

A friend and I recently took one of the Sunset Serenade rides. The 2-hour round trip included local musicians entertaining riders in each of the cars.

Train personnel know the exact spot to stop for the best angle and views of the spectacular New Mexico desert sunset. The two outdoor observation cars provided a great spot from which to take photos.

Riding the train was a delightful way to spend the evening. We loved our car’s musician, Zay Santos. He accompanied himself on the guitar and kept everyone entertained with an eclectic collection of country and classic rock songs.

Pleasant as the evening was, my friend and I agreed that if we were to do it again, we would probably opt for one of the more specialized rides curated by Martin and his team.  The cost of these is not that much more than the sunset ride, but some of the experiences offered are unlike others you are likely to encounter elsewhere.

Learn more about Sky Railway here.

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