The route winds in and out of canyons and past open wilderness affording great views. 473 has been converted to an oil burner and is operational. Durango & Silverton scenic round-trip train ride in Colorado is a popular trip embarking on a journey through the beautiful San Juan Mountains. William Jackson Palmer (18361908) was a former Union General (serving in the American Civil War) who came to Colorado after managing the construction of the Kansas Pacific Railway into Denver in 1870. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was named the NUMBER ONE NORTH AMERICAN TRAIN TRIP by National Geographic Traveler in 2010 and was named one of the World's Top Ten Train Rides by the Society of American Travel Writers in 2009. 6 hour trip reasonable priced, oil fired steam engine still authentic (coal sends out too much ash , could ignite ground fire)). The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. It was reconverted to a full concession car by the D&SNG in 1982. Enjoy a full day on the train with a 9 hour round-trip experience beginning with a 3.5 hour journey from Durango to Silverton. It originally was owned by the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad as No. Looking to start your trip in Silverton? That turned us off so they lost a sale. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. We normally take the steam engine. The train stops a couple times to let off or on hikers which I did not know about. 12:30 pm. The seats were padded and comfortable. The original northsouth plans of the D&RG eventually expanded to include extensions throughout the booming mining country of central and southwestern Colorado. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I think she could be a stand-up comedian. Then, in July, 1998, the railroad was sold again, to American Heritage Railways. A National Historic Landmark and one of the most popular heritage railroads in North America, this train offers a unique . We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. [+ More] 3206 N Main Ave Suite #1, Durango, CO 81301. Eureka and Palisade No. All locomotives were eventually restored to operating condition. Throughout the year this space is available to rent for your special occasion! You could even plan a rail trip for a large group such as a corporate retreat, a bachelor or bachelorette party, a wedding, or a family reunion. The Animas River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the entire western United States. 18 has been a vital resource serving as a helper. Its called Durango, a little town nestled in the Animas canyons and hills, And theres a little train that goes up to Silverton, which is 45 miles long, Its worth every penny to take a trip on the iconic Silverton Train, What is so neat about this railroad? You may ponder, To many people its difficult to express to others, For someone it could be the astonishing views that are on the high line, Maybe its the employees that work there that make them happy, But for many people, including me, of course, it has to be the steam trains, All of them are well-preserved and taken care of, in their little Roundhouse, And their fun museum telling you about the history of the place, So I tell you, I beg you, to stay a while and enjoy the train. One of the most popular ways to get from Durango to Silverton is by taking the Durango train. Deer, elk, black bear, Bighorn Sheep, mountain lions and moose are sometimes sighted as well as eagles, hawks, osprey, geese, squirrels, marmots and fox. The railway is a federally-designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.[3]. No matter where you are riding on the train, the views of the Colorado back country are always truly stunning. In 1886, it was rebuilt as Business Car N. It is reportedly the favorite car of D&RG president William Jackson Palmer. There was a book available but for $10 but I feel as though they really could have made the experience worth the $$ If they narrated the ride. Nicknamed the "Hotshot". more. The train climbs nearly 3,000 feet to Silverton and the high mountain airwill be on average about 10 degreescooler than in Durango. Water is fed to the boiler by two non-lifting injectors. Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. If this is your first time taking a journey with us, we invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the unparalleled scenery along the way. 473, 476, 480, 481, 482 and 493 are all operational. [8] A short time later, the railroad adorned a locomotive and four coaches with a colorful yellow paint scheme and launched modest public promotion. 127 was the third concession car built by the D&SNG. 482 has been converted to an oil burner and is operational. 241243, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Register of Historic Places portal, List of heritage railroads in the United States, "DurangoSilverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad", Cutting through Obstacles: The DurangoSilverton Narrow Gauge Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, by T.R. The museum is open every day the train runs. The recreation of the Silver Vista was built in 2006. As others have stated, read the website thoroughly as it explains in detail everything you need to do to have an enjoyable experience. of tractive effort. Built originally as a mining line, the scenic value of the Durango and Silverton was quickly recognized in passenger service. The Casey Jones was restored and is owned by the San Juan Historical Society[23] in Silverton Colorado. By Molly March 13, 2018. Prior to the war, he had risen within the ranks of the Pennsylvania Railroad, serving as secretary to the president. Between Rockwood and Silverton it is a designated wilderness area and there is no motorized access. Animas Forks, one of the best preserved ghost towns in the state of Colorado, is only 12 miles from Silverton. 1991, the railroad's own track was featured in a, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 17:31. We have spent a few weeks in Durango, which is an awesome town with lots of history, beautiful scenery, and outdoor activities. Currently out of service. The route along the Animas, which begins high in the San Juan Mountains and ends in a confluence with the San Juan River in New Mexico, boasts some of Colorados most striking canyon scenery. 1. Ergonomically, the engines are less comfortable than the others as well, with the crew seats being farther back from the backhead and the engineer having to lean forward constantly to adjust the throttle and use the sanders. In March, 1997, Bradshaw sold the D&SNG to First American Railways, Inc., located in Hollywood, Florida. In later years it fell into disrepair. We decided on the 5 hour Cascade Canyon and I am glad we did. All fares listed below are subject to an 8% historical preservation fee. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad announced this week it has purchased four new diesel engines, including these being . 6 Reasons Your Family Will Love Spring Break at Purgatory Resort, 5 Things To Do On Your Day Off From Skiing, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Available seven days a week from May 1 - November 7, One departure daily from the Durango Depot at 9:30 am, Available seven days a week from May 22 -October 31, Two departures daily from the Durango Depot:the diesel train departure at 8:00 am;the steam departure at 9:00 am, This is a 9.25 roudtrip excursion3 1/2 hours on the train each way with a two-hour layover in Silverton. Firing is simpler on these engines compared to the K-28s; however, the larger surface area requires more fuel. Im going to book for July and I am unsure of which car to book. The last train to operate into Durango from the east was on December 6, 1968. Witcher, Civil Engineering, March 2018, "D&RGW System Passenger Timetable - 1-Jun-1952", "Audio Portrait The last Train on the Silverton Branch", "416 Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System", "Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Closed Due To 416 Fire", "Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad bolsters fleet for dry years", "Is the Durango & Silverton Railroad to blame for the massive 416 fire? Its modern amenities include internet service and a twenty-inch flat paneled television. Mail baggage car No. For the safety and protection of guests and employees, the D&SNG suspended all operations until at least June 23, 2020. Since then the DRHS has operated the locomotive occasionally on the D&SNG and on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. 256, built in 1880, former RGS, purchased in 2022 and currently stored awaiting restoration. 127 is now used as a movie theater in the museum. Concession car 212 was originally D&RG coach 20 built in 1879. 84,641 were here. Vestuable ends, train-line steam heat, electric lights, and deluxe Heywood-Wakefield reclining coach seats for 24 passenger were installed. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. The K represents the nickname "Mikado" that describes a locomotive with two non-powered, pivoting wheels in front of eight driving wheels, which are connected to driving rods powered by the engine's pistons and finally two non-powered trailer wheels located under the cab. Poem: The Silverton Train. The train was clean and some of the scenery was extremely beautiful. D&SNG W0473 and D&RG 3543 on display, Silverton, October 2012. Traded to the D&SNG in exchange for. Magazine. Silverton Take the railroad into this old mining town next door. Trains hauling passengers and freight began immediately. Built in 1880, it was originally named the Hildago as Horton chair car number 25. The train's speed is about 12 mph and you were welcomed to get up to stand at either end of the train. It was stored from 1992 to 1997, until it was rebuilt as an open observation car 313. The D&SNG operates several other coaches: Animas City 323 in Silverton, October 2012. The engines were delivered with Master Mechanics-design smokeboxes for draft; however at some point the D&RGW converted them to Andersson (cyclone) front ends. The seats on the train (in the car with the glass top) reversed so we always were able to sit going forward. 499 was traded to the Royal Gorge Park in May, 1999 and is placed on display. 315. The museum features memorabilia from the D&RGW and other railroads. Being a "Narrow Gauge" railroad means that the rails are only three . 480 has been converted to an oil burner and is operational. Numbers 493 and 498 are owned by the D&SNG, but #498 is not operational and serving as a parts source. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. There were many families with children in the open cars. 18 was to return to the D&SNG from April, 2021 to October, 2021, and on April 11, it departed for Durango, Colorado via truck. Firing while the engine is working hard is done with a large "heel" pattern, generally with as little coal on the flue sheet as possible, and gradually sloping the fire bed towards the door sheet to the height or higher than the firedoors. It could seat 32 people and had a 300-horsepower (220kW) six-cylinder Caterpillar engine. As the train turns around. The engines currently use 6-ET automatic air and the secondary straight air used on regular service equipment. It is a family-friendly ride sure to create memories that will last a lifetime while offering a view of Colorados mountain splendor inaccessible by highway. And Silverton is a bunch of tourist shops and didn't appeal to us. Durango depot was built in January, 1882 and has been preserved in its original form.[4]. There was a family that got on and off midway at Rockwood Station and I would HIGHLY recommend anyone interested look into that option. The United States Transportation Corps. The first 18 miles to Rockwood were completed by late November. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The scenery is majestic (especially if you sit on the right side of the train) with the train going around cliffs with tracks very close to the edge. Currently out of service. Since 2016, No. Annual snowslides and several major floods on the branch would only continue to challenge the railroad's ability to survive. Typical of many portions of the surviving narrow-gauge branches into the middle of the twentieth century, the line faced sagging revenue due to ever-declining mining ventures, highway trucking competition and insignificant passenger revenue. When narrow-gauge pieces of equipment come back to life there are very few places in the United States where they can run. We came to Durango just for the Train Ride. Silverton diesel train runs from May 21 - October 15. Once there, you'll have 2 hours to explore the historic mining town of Silverton before the 3.5 hour train ride back to Durango. No. 498 is stored partially disassembled in. 5 was completely restored to operating condition in 1998 by the Galloping Goose Historical Society[24] in Dolores, Colorado. Engine 473 served frequently on the Chili Line that operated between Antonito, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico, until the line was abandoned in 1941. Excellent day trip to Silverton or Cascade in original passenger car or open window gondola. It is used by Maintenance of Way. Excursions begin May 6, departing from the Durango Depot. Ballantine Communications, Inc. #499 was later traded for K-36 class No. [13] An estimated 54,129 acres (21,905ha) of the San Juan National Forest were burned, with losses estimated at more than $31 million. Open observation gondolas 400402 were built in 1963, equipped with passenger car trucks, steel roofs, tile floors and tramway seats. Looking for the Durango train schedule? No. Here are the current train destination routes and times for the Summer and Fall. The Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Train Car and Seating Options. When you embark on your Durango to Silverton train journey you will have the choice of several different classes, from Standard Class to Presidential Class. In November 1916 the engine was sold to the Rio Grande Southern and was used till the RGS was dismantled in 1952. [14] The railroad's coal-burning steam locomotives were suspected of sparking the "416 Fire" blaze,[15] and some area businesses and residents filed a civil lawsuit against the railroad and its owner in mid-September, 2018. We left at 9AM and our attendant (Isaac) was very knowledgeable with stories and explaining the scenery. The train stops for a water refill beside the river. Half the roundhouse is used for the steam engines and the other half is for the museum. In July 2015, the D&SNG and C&TSRR had announced an engine-trade propasal by which locomotive 478 would go to Chama, New Mexico, and, in exchange, the D&SNG would get K-36 class No. Still see beautiful scenery and not sit on the train so long. Freight traffic, however, continued to decline, and during the 1950s The Silverton operated as a mixed train. What restaurants are near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum? The D&SNG named coach 312 the Silverton. In 1968 the Woodmoor Corporation purchased the Magic Mountain property and in 1969 put engine 42 on display in Monument, Colorado, at the entrance to its Woodmoor subdivision. Thinking this might be a good alternative? The Fairplay has hosted Presidents William H Taft, Ulysses S Grant and Theodore Roosevelt. But a huge part o. They were later dismantled for scrap in 1946. Caboose No. Take the train to Silverton & ride the bus back to Durango, or take the bus to Silverton & ride the train back to Durango. The train ride seemed long to me at 3-1/2 hours and ending up in Silverton for 2 hours which is a small town without much flair or things to do. Votes are . Train rides from Durango to Silverton, Co. up and back. The historic railway has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, taking guests on plush vintage steam locomotives through the stunning San Juan National Forest. Several folks did what you are thinking. Cres Fleming makes his way up a portion of a steep hill along the Durango & Silverton Railroad tracks where he says the 416 fire started on July 10,. durango and silverton narrow gauge railroad - durango and silverton narrow gauge railway stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. I feel as if the DSNG really missed a great opportunity to share some great history. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Tall Timber Legend 631 & Tall Timber Legacy 632. Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Durango, Hotels near Durango Adventures and Zipline Tours, Hotels near Durango Wildlife Museum and Fish Hatchery, Hotels near Montezuma County Airport (CEZ), Hotels near Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), Motels near Montezuma County Airport (CEZ), Motels near Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), Hotels near University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Things to do near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Durango, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Durango, San Juan National Forest: Tickets & Tours, Historic Downtown Durango: Tickets & Tours, Durango Wildlife Museum and Fish Hatchery: Tickets & Tours, Small Group Tour of Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods from Denver, From Warsaw Auschwitz and Krakow one day tour by train with pick up and drop off, Zurich Tour Including Lake Cruise and Lindt Home of Chocolate, Sapanca Lake & Masukiye Zoo Tour with Lunch, Sunset - sailing cruise on yacht catamaran, Rethymno, Crete, Bean to Bar Chocolate Workshop in Puerto Vallarta, ATV Tour to Moray, Maras and Salt Flat in the Sacred Valley from Cusco, View all hotels near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum on Tripadvisor. The company is converting a coal train, pictured, to run on oil in order to . Immigrant sleepers had very few amenities and had little consideration for passenger comfort. The route was originally opened in 1882 by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) to transport silver and gold ore mined from the San Juan Mountains. New firemen sometimes have a hard time learning this, because the art of "reading" a fire takes time to learn and the amount of time working on the K-28 class locomotives is much-reduced compared to the railroad's usual K-36 workhorses, which have a larger firebox and are more forgiving in technique. ", "Durango residents sue historic train company, accuse it of starting 416 wildfire", "Locomotive 493: Conversion from Coal-Fired to Oil-Burning The Conversion Begins", "Tests continue on first Durango & Silverton oil-burner; second conversion to begin", "Durango & Silverton buys White Pass & Yukon diesels", Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, "Around the World in 80 Days (1956) - IMDb", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - IMDb", "Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) - IMDb", Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Central City/Black Hawk Historic District, Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District, Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building, United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Area, List of National Register of Historic Places in Colorado, Yanks Gulch/Upper Greasewood Creek Natural Area, History of the National Register of Historic Places, List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state, List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places, University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Durango_and_Silverton_Narrow_Gauge_Railroad&oldid=1152509822, National Register of Historic Places in La Plata County, Colorado, National Register of Historic Places in San Juan County, Colorado, Railroad-related National Historic Landmarks, Spin-offs of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, Transportation in La Plata County, Colorado, Transportation buildings and structures in La Plata County, Colorado, Transportation in San Juan County, Colorado, Rail infrastructure on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado, Railway lines on the National Register of Historic Places, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from January 2018, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2010, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The locomotive was built for the D&RG in 1887, and sold to the, Taken out of service in September, 1999. tim and mark kdkb rump ranger, carolyne michael gogglebox,
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