View allAll Photos Tagged Durango
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton in the U.S. state of Colorado. 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..
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. The line was an extension of the D&RG 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge line from Antonito, Colorado to Durango. The last train to operate into Durango from the east was on December 6, 1968. The states of New Mexico and Colorado purchased 64 miles between Antonito and Chama, New Mexico, in 1970 and operates today as the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR). Trackage between Chama and Durango was removed by 1971.
The line from Durango to Silverton has run continuously since 1881, although it is now a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers and is one of the few places in the U.S. which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives. In March 1981, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) sold the line and the D&SNG was formed. Today, the D&SNG, along with the C&TSRR, are the only two remaining parts of the former D&RGW narrow-gauge network. The railroad has a total of nine narrow-gauge steam locomotives (eight of which are operational) and soon-to-be eleven narrow-gauge diesel locomotives, six of which were acquired within the last three years, in their current roster. The railroad also operates former D&RGW No. 315 for special events.
Some rolling stock dates back to the 1880s. Trains operate from Durango to the Cascade Wye in the winter months and Durango–Silverton during the summer months. Durango depot was built in January 1882 and has been preserved in its original form.
Here's one from my fall foliage loop around Colorado. This was in Durango. Still haven't gotten any photos around here. It's been stormy and overcast the whole week. It has warmed up nicely though. We've gone from 30 degrees on Monday to 70 degrees today, with 99% humidity. I've been in the desert for 15 months. I forgot what humidity was. It's very sticky. Anyway, I'm going to be kind on off and on, on flickr for the next couple of weeks. Tomorrow morning, I head out on a major roadtrip. My broken motorhome is staying in Texas. I haven't been able to find anyone to watch my dogs, so instead of flying, I'm driving and bringing the Dogs. Heading back to New Jersey to see my mom for Christmas, and visit with a bunch of friends. I want to eat a bunch of Subs, and Pizza. I can't think of many things I miss about NJ, but our Subs and Pizza are the best on the planet. I can make this into kind of a working trip. My company covers St Louis, Arkansas and Louisiana. I will be shooting some photos, and visiting some friends on the way there, and back.
After arriving with the last train of the day, Durango & Silverton K36 2-8-2 480 simmers in the yard at Durango, Colorado.
Rio Grande class K28 478 switches the yard in Durango, Colorado passing in front of the old General Palmer Hotel at dawn on a cold February 20, 2011.
Captured during the Lerro Photography photo shoot at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Durango Depot, the three surviving K-28 class locomotives, 476, 473 (renumbered 477 for the weekend’s events), and 478, are lined up around the turntable. K-36 locomotive #480 also joined the lineup on the far right.
Durango, CO.
Saturday, 19 October 2024.
On Sept. 2-3, the Durango & Silverton put on a photo charter for Trains Magazine. I've been on a few charters in my day, and done some of my own, but I've never seen a railroad go so "all in" as D&SNG. They manicured all the photo locations, gave out a sheet of all the proposed stops which included "degree of difficulty" ratings to reach each one, and even let us climb to spots that would give a liability lawyer nightmares. When they tried to apply Rio Grande lettering to engine 493 it wouldn't stick, so they just repainted the entire tender! It was an amazing experience, that also included SP 4-6-0 No. 18. Seen here from high above the Animas River, No. 18 smokes it up through the mountains on one of the run-bys that were so numerous I lost count. You know its a great charter when even the hard cores were starting to say "Oh no, not another run-by, can we just rest for a while?" Of course they got out anyway!
Hundreds of feet above the Animas River, the ‘High Line’ must be one of the most iconic locations of any tourist line in the world. It was cut out of the canyon walls in 1882 and was the most difficult part of the construction of the line to Silverton.
D&RGW K-28 2-8-2 #477 gently eases The Silverton mixed over the rock ledge and through the horseshoe curve.
This photograph was captured during a photo shoot on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, organised by Trains Magazine. K-28 2-8-2 #473 had been re-numbered for the event to portray #477 with Rio Grande ‘speed lettering’ while working on the D&RGW.
The High Line, Rockwood, CO.
Saturday, 19 October 2024.
As forementioned, Steve Patterson, John Charles, and I made a photo foray to Rio Grande narrow gauge country in December 1963. On the evening of December 18th of that year, we gathered in Alamosa. Steve had journeyed from his home in Tennessee via several passenger trains, including Missouri Pacific's Colorado Eagle from St. Louis to Pueblo. From Pueblo, he traveled by Trailways bus to Alamosa. John Charles and I drove up from Lubbock, Texas, where we were attending college.
Our intelligence revealed that the Rio Grande would run an extra freight east from Durango to Chama early the following day. We drove most of the night from Alamosa to Durango to get in on that action.
We arrived in Durango in predawn bitter cold and spotted our train coupled to Caboose 0540. The engine was being serviced and made ready nearby. This scene greeted us as we arrived in Durango on December 19, 1963, exactly 60 years ago today.
It's departure time in Durango (it's not) as century old K-28 # 476 of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge leads a cut of cars on the station platform.
Denver & Rio Grande Western K-28 #477 eases a mixed train over the ‘High Bridge’ across the Animas River as the crew perform a blow-down on the locomotive.
This photograph was captured during a photo shoot on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, organised by Trains Magazine. K-28 locomotive #473 had been re-numbered for the event to portray #477 with Rio Grande ‘speed lettering’ while still working on the D&RGW. The real K-28 #477 was shipped to Alaska during World War II for service on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad and eventually scrapped in Alaska, never returning to Colorado.
High Bridge, Tacoma, CO.
Friday, 18 October 2024.
Back in 1978, a visitor could wander about through Rio Grande's Durango yard with abandon. The times have changed, of course. Check out the dilapidated state of K-36 No. 481. It now serves as a regular on Durango & Silverton trains.
Even during Rio Grande ownership, the narrow gauge K37 2-8-2's were never used on a regular basis on the SIlverton Branch. After the sale of the Silverton to the late Charles Bradshaw, #497 was overhauled and for a short time did run too Silverton. As it was hard on the track, the D&S later traded operational #497 to the Cumbres and Toltec for derelict K36 #482. #482 was rebuilt and is now in regular service. #497 is in Chama awaiting another overhaul and out of service.
Fall Photo Train, Durango & Silverton Railroad, Colorado.
Mile Post 489.87: Fifty five foot long Elk Park Bridge was installed over the Animas River in 1964, Periodic flooding had seriously weakened the abutments of the old truss bridge, still standing on the right.
This was my view from the train ride last year. The tracks were completed in July 1882 & were originally used to haul silver & other freight... & then eventually passengers/ tourists . The train runs daily from Durango, CO to Silverton, CO & return.
Durango Silverton Railroad. Judi and I travelled on it in 2000 - so brilliant to go back in 2024 (October) to photograph it. This image was taken at Tank Creek.(DSC 8264)
The Durango/Silverton train makes its way along the tracks beside Highway 550 aka "The Million Dollar Highway".
With the day's work done, the Durango & Silverton's roundhouse crew has a long night ahead of them repairing and servicing the railroad's fleet of former D&RGW narrow gauge steam locomotives. Here, K-36 #486 and #481 occupy two stalls in the Durango roundhouse as dusk settles in across the Animas river valley.