Sky Railway in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Santa Fe, New Mexico · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesRides year-round on scheduled dates

Sky Railway revived the historic Santa Fe Southern line between Santa Fe and Lamy in 2020, and now runs themed adventure trains with live music, sunsets over the high desert and a family holiday train from the Lamy depot.

  • Historic Santa Fe to Lamy line
  • Revived as Sky Railway in 2020
  • Creative team led by George R.R. Martin
  • Sunset Serenade is the top seller
  • Pablo's Holiday Express for families
  • Departs 430 W Manhattan Ave

Sky Railway at a glance

Hours
Rides run year-round on scheduled dates; see the online calendar
Admission
From $29 (Pablo's Holiday Express) to about $139 for themed trips, as posted October 2026
Train rides
Round trips on the historic Santa Fe to Lamy line, 1 to 3 hours; Sunset Serenade from $109
Seasonal events
Pablo's Holiday Express, Fright Train (18+), Lamy Beer Fest, Sunset Serenade, The Stargazer Limited
Plan for
About 2 to 3 hours per ride
Best for
Couples, adult groups and families on all-ages trips
Best ages
All-ages trips for school-age kids; holiday train for toddlers up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Sky Railway? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Santa Fe.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

The branch line that helped make the City Different

For generations the short line between Santa Fe and the main line at Lamy carried the people who shaped the city's reputation: artists, tourists, archaeologists, eccentric visitors from back east and dreamers drawn by the light and the mountains. Scientists bound for the Manhattan Project rode it quietly before being driven up to the secret city of Los Alamos, and presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy both traveled the line. Sky Railway credits the old Santa Fe Southern connection with helping create the City Different.

By 2020 that 141-year-old railroad needed rescuing. A group of Santa Feans stepped in, among them Bill Banowsky, owner of Violet Crown Cinemas and a filmmaker, and novelist George R.R. Martin, a co-creator of Meow Wolf, joined by author Douglas Preston, artist Gary Oakley and other train enthusiasts. They pooled their own resources to bring the line back as Sky Railway.

The new railroad set out to entertain locals and the city's roughly three million yearly visitors with what it calls Adventure Trains. Martin leads the creative team and has said the railroad should be bold and try things other railroads would never attempt, noting that no one else has a wolf or a dragon. That spirit shows in a schedule that mixes live music, theater, food and drink with an 18-mile run across the high desert.

Onboard: music, sunsets and the road to Lamy

Trips leave from 430 W Manhattan Ave in Santa Fe and run round trip on the historic rail toward Lamy, an 18-mile line through high-desert country. Most rides last two to three hours and come with live entertainment. The all-ages Sunset Serenade, the railroad's most popular trip, times the ride for a desert sunset with live music, and some departures add flamenco guitar and dance. The Stargazer Limited, also all ages, heads out after dark.

Many trains are built for grown-ups: Margarita Rail, the New Mexico Wine Train, Whiskey on the Rails, a circus murder mystery and burlesque nights, plus the 18 and over Fright Train in the Halloween season. In September the Lamy Beer Fest fills the historic Lamy Depot with live music and New Mexico breweries, with all-ages door tickets for families who drive down.

Don’t miss

  1. Sunset SerenadeThe railroad's top seller and an all-ages ride, with live music as the sun goes down over the desert.
  2. Pablo's Holiday ExpressA one-hour family Christmas train from the Lamy Depot, where Mrs. Claus tells how Pablito the dragon saved Christmas.
  3. The Stargazer LimitedAn all-ages trip after dark for looking at the New Mexico sky, with an optional Close Encounter upgrade.
  4. The historic Lamy DepotThe far end of the line and the starting point for the holiday train and the Lamy Beer Fest.

Which trains work for kids

Families should filter by age before booking, because many trips are 18 or 21 and over. The best picks for children are the Sunset Serenade and the Stargazer Limited, both rated for all ages, and Pablo's Holiday Express, a one-hour Christmas trip from the Lamy Depot with Mrs. Claus and a story about a dragon named Pablito.

At two to two and a half hours, the sunset and stargazing rides suit school-age kids who can sit through an evening outing. For toddlers, the one-hour holiday train is the gentlest introduction.

Plan your visit: tips for Sky Railway

  • Check each trip's age rating; many are 18+ or 21+.
  • Popular themed trains sell out, so book online ahead of time.
  • Pablo's Holiday Express leaves from the Lamy Depot, not Santa Fe.
  • Look for optional upgrades such as flamenco on select Sunset Serenades.

For families, the holiday season brings Pablo's Holiday Express, a one-hour round trip from the historic Lamy Depot where Mrs. Claus tells how Santa helped Pablito the dragon save Christmas in New Mexico; tickets started from $29 as posted in October 2026. See our roundup of Christmas train rides in New Mexico for more. Sky Railway's Halloween season Fright Train is for adults 18 and over, so families with kids may prefer the options on our New Mexico Halloween train rides page.

Santa Feans who saved their railroad

Sky Railway exists because a group of local train enthusiasts, including Bill Banowsky, George R.R. Martin, Douglas Preston and Gary Oakley, put their own resources into saving the line in 2020. Riding is the main way to keep it running, and the railroad also welcomes group bookings and parties through info@skyrailway.com.

More rail history from Santa Fe

The Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits at the Railyard are about a mile away. Down in Albuquerque, about 56 miles south, the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society looks after Santa Fe 2926, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs narrow gauge steam from Chama, about 91 miles north. See train museums across New Mexico.

Every train museum in New Mexico

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Sunset Serenade on Sky Railway is all about watching the light change over the desert, and that is my favorite kind of train window. In our book Rally presses close to an arched window to look at the sea and greet a white bird. I think he would bark at a desert sunset just as happily. My mom always loved the view more than the destination. Read about her on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Sky Railway?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Sky Railway Santa Fe: 20 questions riders ask

What is the Sky Railway in Santa Fe?

Sky Railway is a short line railroad in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that runs themed entertainment trains on the historic line between Santa Fe and Lamy. Rides include live music, food and drink, theater and seasonal trips. It was revived in 2020 from the old Santa Fe Southern railroad.

Where is the Sky Railway station in Santa Fe?

Most Sky Railway trips depart from 430 W Manhattan Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, and run round trip. Pablo's Holiday Express is the exception, leaving from the historic Lamy Depot. Your ticket confirmation lists the departure point, so check it before you leave home.

Where does the Sky Railway go?

Sky Railway runs on the 18-mile historic rail line between Santa Fe and Lamy, New Mexico, through high-desert country. Most trips are round trips from Santa Fe that return to the same station, while some events, such as the Lamy Beer Fest and the holiday train, center on the Lamy Depot.

How much are Sky Railway tickets?

As of October 2026, posted fares start at $29 for Pablo's Holiday Express, $99 for Margarita Rail and Whiskey on the Rails, $109 for Sunset Serenade, $129 for the Fright Train and about $130 to $139 for wine, burlesque, murder mystery and Stargazer trips. Prices vary by date, so check skyrailway.com.

Are there Sky Railway ticket discounts?

Sky Railway sometimes shows sale prices on specific trips; the murder mystery train was posted at $119, down from $139, as of October 2026. No standing discount program is listed. Watch the online calendar and the railroad's Facebook page for current deals.

What is the Sky Railway Sunset Serenade?

Sunset Serenade is Sky Railway's most popular trip: a round trip from Santa Fe of two to two and a half hours, timed so riders can toast a desert sunset with live music. It is rated for all ages and starts from $109 as of October 2026. Select departures offer flamenco guitar and dance upgrades.

Are Sky Railway Sunset Serenade reviews good?

Sunset Serenade is the railroad's top seller, and riders tend to highlight the desert views, live music and relaxed evening pace. As with any themed ride, reviews vary with the entertainers and the weather, so read recent comments on Tripadvisor and set expectations for a music trip rather than a history tour.

Is the Sky Railway worth it?

It depends on what you want. Sky Railway is an entertainment train, so riders looking for music, sunsets and a themed night out tend to enjoy it most. Rail fans get time on a historic 18-mile line. Families should choose an all-ages trip such as Sunset Serenade or the holiday train.

Does Sky Railway have a Christmas train?

Yes. Pablo's Holiday Express is a one-hour, all-ages round trip from the historic Lamy Depot. Mrs. Claus shares how Santa helped Pablito the dragon save Christmas in New Mexico. As of October 2026, tickets were on sale starting from $29. Book early on skyrailway.com.

Is the Sky Railway Fright Train good for kids?

No. The Fright Train is an adults-only ride for guests 18 and over, with a costume contest, DJ, Halloween themed cocktails, a champagne toast and haunted performances along the tracks. It starts from $129 as of October 2026 and often sells out. Families should pick an all-ages trip instead.

Which Sky Railway trains are good for kids?

Look for trips rated all ages. Sunset Serenade and the Stargazer Limited are open to all ages and last about two to two and a half hours, and Pablo's Holiday Express is a one-hour family Christmas train. Many other rides are 18 or 21 and over.

What upcoming events does Sky Railway have?

Sky Railway posts every ride on its online calendar. Recent listings include the Fright Train in the Halloween season, a Burlesque Express on November 21, Pablo's Holiday Express in the holidays, plus Sunset Serenade, Margarita Rail, the New Mexico Wine Train and the Stargazer Limited on set dates.

What is the Sky Railway schedule?

Sky Railway runs year-round on scheduled dates rather than a fixed daily timetable. Each trip has its own dates and times on the calendar at skyrailway.com, where you can filter by age rating and trip length. Popular trains sell out, so book ahead.

Is there parking at the Sky Railway station?

Sky Railway does not post parking details on its main pages. The station is at 430 W Manhattan Ave in Santa Fe. Call (844) 743-3759 or email info@skyrailway.com to ask where riders should park, and allow extra time in busy seasons.

Does Sky Railway have a station code?

Sky Railway is a local excursion railroad, so its trips are booked through skyrailway.com rather than with a national rail station code. Use the street address, 430 W Manhattan Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, for directions, and check your ticket for the exact departure point.

Is Sky Railway a scenic ride?

Yes. The 18-mile line between Santa Fe and Lamy crosses New Mexico high-desert landscape, and many trips are timed for sunset or after dark for stargazing. Most rides are built around entertainment too, so expect live music or a show alongside the views.

What kind of train does Sky Railway use?

Sky Railway runs diesel-powered trains on the historic Santa Fe to Lamy line. The railroad's focus is on entertainment rides rather than a locomotive collection, with musicians, performers, food and drinks on board. Rail fans who want to see historic steam should pair a ride with a visit to Santa Fe 2926 in Albuquerque or the Cumbres & Toltec in Chama.

Who owns Sky Railway?

Sky Railway was formed in 2020 by a group of Santa Feans who saved the historic line, including Bill Banowsky, owner of Violet Crown Cinemas, and novelist George R.R. Martin, who leads the creative team. Author Douglas Preston and artist Gary Oakley were also part of the group.

What is the history of the Sky Railway line?

The line was the Santa Fe Southern connection that brought artists, tourists, archaeologists and others to Santa Fe. Manhattan Project scientists rode it on their way to Los Alamos, and Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy traveled it. By 2020 it was 141 years old and was revived as Sky Railway.

What train museums are near Sky Railway?

The Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits at the Railyard are about a mile away. In Albuquerque, about 56 to 58 miles south, are the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society and the WHEELS Museum. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama is about 91 miles north.

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