This trip is ideal for passengers staying in Silverton, Ouray or Telluride wanting to experience the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad without making the early morning drive to Durango! Built by the D&RG in 1887, it had clerestory roof and bullnose ends. It runs during the summer time. We left at 9AM and our attendant (Isaac) was very knowledgeable with stories and explaining the scenery. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. We were served soft drinks (free) and were offered mixed drinks (for a fee). The 470 series, or "K-28" class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type locomotives, were ten engines designed for freight service along the D&RG. It was renumbered 350 in 1959. Operations for the Animas River Railway were run out of Rockwood. In March, 1997, Bradshaw sold the D&SNG to First American Railways, Inc., located in Hollywood, Florida. Since the swap failed to go through, the D&SNG announced in June 2016 that it was going to restore locomotive 476 to operating condition and place locomotive 478 in the museum where locomotive 476 previously sat in. Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: Choose from several print and digital subscription packages, 2023 Durango Herald | Both cars were built as general passenger cars to help with the increase in passengers. Always the best part is the scenery. Though there are no longer any operating mines, the mining legacy pervades every aspect of the town, as a visit will show. It's called Durango, a little town nestled in the Animas canyons and . Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. We were given 2 hours to check out the town and get food- but many of the shops/restaurants were closed since it was before Memorial Day. The remainder of the route entered the narrow Animas Canyon, which has steep granite walls. The Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Train Car and Seating Options. In March 1981, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) sold the line and the D&SNG was formed. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. [16] As of 2023, the railroad aims to have most, if not all, of its operational steam locomotives converted to oil-power. 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. : Anthony D'Amato https://durangotrain.com . When you get to Silverton, go 2 blocks up and find the Main Street ( I think the only tarred one) and check that out for food. In 1993 it was acquired by the D&SNG and was restored to its original condition. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. Trains operate from Durango to the Cascade Wye in the winter months and DurangoSilverton during the summer months. From leisurely rides to and from Silverton to . For the safety and protection of guests and employees, the D&SNG suspended all operations until at least June 23, 2020. It is rugged and gorgeous! The railroad is designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and is also an . Being a "Narrow Gauge" railroad means that the rails are only three . Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. ", "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. View the Round trip schedule & fares. Our conductor was Kyle, who was informative and entertaining at times. Choose from a 9-hour round trip tour, a train/bus combination, or a train & adventure package to fit in as much fun during your trip as possible! They were later dismantled for scrap in 1946. The railroad has a total of nine narrow-gauge steam locomotives (eight of which are operational) and ten narrow-gauge diesel locomotives, six of which were acquired within the last five years, on its current roster. I would definitely do the train trip again, but next time do the one way trip. [7] Eventually, the railroad became widely known as the "Rio Grande". The train operates on different schedules seasonally and sometimes there are even exciting events taking place on board or in Silverton. [4], The improvements to the railroad in the 1980s would prove to be the most dramatic growth on the Silverton Branch since the earlier part of the century. 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. The first 18 miles to Rockwood were completed by late November. Relive the Wild West on the Historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad! Number 499 was also owned by the D&SNG at one time, lacking a tender and was on display in the museum. By July of 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling both freight and passengers. Choose between any of the seating options on our 1:45pm or 2:30pm train departure from Silverton combined with a van shuttle service back in the evening departing from the Durango Depot at 7:00pm. The D&SNG operates two museums, the D&SNG Museum[22] and the Silverton Freight Yard Museum. We were surprised to learn once we boarded the train, that the trip was for 9 hours! The bus ride backs saves you about 2 hours and I thought was the best part of the trip although it rained the whole way so the views were not there. The workforce grew with the railroad, and Durango's tourist image expanded as new businesses and revamping of the old railroad town continued to take shape. 478 is placed on display in the D&SNG Museum awaiting an overhaul in the distant future. Sold to private individual in 2020 for eventual restoration. Even more interesting, the D&SNGRR museum is located in one part of the roundhouse, the only one of its kind in the world to house narrow gauge steam locomotives. The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. Traded to the D&SNG in exchange for. We rode the train up to Silverton and back and it was too long - in our opinion. more. The female bus driver was great and talked the whole trip giving us a tour and filling in with great stories of her life in the area and other items. It originally was owned by the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad as No. Grading was completed by late spring 1882.[6]. We still were going to buy it but then overheard the girl tell the people behind us that she was glad they don't take cash because "if she had to give one more person a quarter back, she would jam that quarter down their throat". Listen to the steel wheels sing as you venture alongside the rushing waters of the Animas River and amid the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains to beautiful Cascade Canyon or the historic mining town of Silverton. Age rated 14 and Durango and Silverton - HO scale ready to run Electric train set. Hop aboard to be the first to hear about upcoming events, specials, and train news. All that matters is that you meet the kind folks there who keep their trains in line. 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 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. Half the roundhouse is used for the steam engines and the other half is for the museum. 493 was shifted around a few times on the railroad on display a few times, last ending up in the Silverton yard until May 4, 2016, when #493 was hauled to Durango from Silverton by K-36 #481. 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. The 40-square-foot (3.7m2) grate surface in the firebox is among the largest built for a narrow-gauge locomotive and is fed by hand-firing. Built in 1880, it was originally named the Hildago as Horton chair car number 25. The seats did well to seat 2 people in them and it was tight. So, book a ticket to ride on this historic railway and see some of the most stunning wilderness that Colorado has to offer! 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. In 1950 it was sold to Bob Richardson, then again in 1987 to a business in Cripple Creek. Looking to start your trip in Silverton? For 140 years, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroadhas been transporting passengers through the remote, scenic wilderness and high mountain landscape of the San Juan National Forest. They were able to see all the spectacular scenery and views in half the time. Firing can be tricky when the engine is working hard, as the clamshell-style firedoors tend to pull into the backhead of the boiler due to the draft, and if any flues in the boiler are leaking, the loss of draft on the fire is much harder to work around than on the K-36 locomotives. To experience a train up close and personal, book a locomotive car ride. Join us for a magical excursion onboard THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride! The D&SNG was founded by Charles Bradshaw Jr., of Florida, with the intent of purchasing the right-of-way and equipment while expanding the infrastructure and passenger revenue. We wish we had done the narrow gauge to Cascade Canyon and back. I am sorry, not sure. Vallecito Lake A secluded mountain lake 8,000 feet above sea level. Then, in 1982, the Cinco Animas was sold to the D&SNG. The Durango area boasts nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. It has run on the D&SNG just a handful of times in the past during special events. The Skyway Tour option saves time & rewards you with equally as stunning views on the bus ride back along the San Juan Byway. You can read about the basic differences below, or read a more in depth description on our Durango Silverton train classes page. It was later determined that the trailing truck was having trouble negotiating the curves in the Animas Canyon. Our family is dedicated to the preservation of history and there is no greater American historical treasure than the D&SNGRR. It does not matter which side you sit on because the train stops in Cascade Canyon and then turns around back to head back to Rockwood Station so you get to see the scenery on both sides. This is our third time taking the train. River Rafting & Tubing 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours, Mountain Waters Rafting & Adventure Company, River Rafting & Tubing Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks. Note: Historic Narration coach is currently unavailable due to COVID-19. The train makes it easy to have a perfect, painless trip. Except for severe weather conditions, the D&SNG runs trains as scheduled. We normally take the steam engine. 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. No. 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. . The route is varied throughout the year and offers both winter excursions and summer excursions. As ridership continued to grow, the D&RGW operated a second train to Silverton on certain days.[10]. Built in 1878, the Nomad was originally named Fairplay. No matter where you are riding on the train, the views of the Colorado back country are always truly stunning. It was acquired by the D&SNG in 1982. 499 was traded to the Royal Gorge Park in May, 1999 and is placed on display. What is the best time to plan your train journey in Durango? Motive Power and Equipment Solutions, Inc. Acquired from Motive Power and Equipment Solutions (MP&ES) in 2018 in response to the, Restored to operating condition in 1984. First class train car availability differs from month to month. Currently out of service. Ballantine Communications, Inc. 480, 481, 482 and 486, all of which are operational. Votes are . Also, throughout the year there will be Durango train packages that offer special experiences, so check the website! Free shipping for many products! Browse different rides & seasonal events. They empty the trains for 2 hours at Silverton so people can have lunch and walk around the town to visit shops and businesses. The add-on will be Emailed to your PayPal address. If you call the Rail Line they can answer any questions There is some plastic elements on the cars that could be upgraded with metal for more realistic look and feel, but that will reflect the final price. How long does it take to ride the train from Silverton to Durango? All fares listed below are subject to an 8% historical preservation fee. Glide along the track past the dense forests, rocky ridges and rushing rivers of the Colorado back country. Hop aboard a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive that travels along the same railroad tracks that miners, cowboys and the early settlers of the Old West used over a hundred years ago. The museum is open every day the train runs. 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. I road in late October, so chose an enclosed car. 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. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. But, the best part was that she kept us all engaged and in stitches most of the time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. View the Skyway Tour schedule & fares. 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. Steam looks great and it's nostalgic. Beautiful colors on the way to Silverton on October 25, 2012, On the Highline above the Animas Canyon on October 25, 2012, Along the Animas River to Silverton on October 25, 2012, Approaching Silverton on October 25, 2012, The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad currently operates over 50 pieces of rolling stock. No. If you go up and back you see both sides. We arrived at the Rockwood Station around 8:30 and were surprised by how many people were already there. Arrive Durango. We rode in the open Gondola train, so we would not miss anything but the last half hour a storm rolled in and it rained. There is also a movie coach that was used in the filming of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, where the railroad's informational and educational films are featured. Freight Yard Museum in Silverton, October 2012, Freight Yard Museum with the Silverton depot, October 2012. Two departures daily from the Durango Depot: the diesel train departure at 8:00 am; the steam departure at 9:00 am. We will pass fertile farmlands, old stagecoach roads, the breathtaking Highline, the remote Tacoma Power Plant, old mining camps, and be in the shadow of peaks reaching over 14,000 feet, often with year-round snow! Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Locomotive No. The D&SNG has two museums, one each in Durango and Silverton. Durango & Silverton scenic round-trip train ride in Colorado is a popular trip embarking on a journey through the beautiful San Juan Mountains. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. The train stops a couple times to let off or on hikers which I did not know about. The other seven were requisitioned by the United States Army in 1942 to be used on the White Pass & Yukon Route in Alaska during World War II. Traded to the, Previously nicknamed the "PB-II". 425 and, after the railroad was reorganized into D&RGW in 1924, it became No.
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