It was restored in 2001 at a cost of $250,000 by the D&SNG. When narrow-gauge pieces of equipment come back to life there are very few places in the United States where they can run. It was converted to a coach-snack bar by the D&RGW in 1963 then reconverted in 1979 to a coach. We ended up waiting until others had left to make it easier to turn around. We took the train ride to Silverton and then the bus back to Durango. There is an HO train layout in the museum. All Rights Reserved. K-37 steam locomotive #493 on display before its restoration to operation, Silverton, October 2012. 473, 476 and 478 operated on the Silverton Branch from the 1950s through 1980 and are still in service today. Built originally as a mining line, the scenic value of the Durango and Silverton was quickly recognized in passenger service. #493 to be transported to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado, on a 10-year lease, where it would be restored to operational condition and run it for those 10 years; then returned to the D&SNG. 632 was built in 1986 and named Teft. It was renumbered 350 in 1959. The D&SNG operates two museums, the D&SNG Museum[22] and the Silverton Freight Yard Museum. The line was an extension of the D&RG 3ft (914mm) narrow-gauge line from Antonito, Colorado, to Durango. Durango & Silverton scenic round-trip train ride in Colorado is a popular trip embarking on a journey through the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad lawsuits divide town 5. For the first time in many years, double-headed trains (trains with two locomotives) and additional scheduled trains were employed to handle the continually-growing passenger trade. Getinformation on upcoming train events, deals on hotels plus insider information about Durango, CO delivered to your inbox weekly. Age rated 14 and Durango and Silverton - HO scale ready to run Electric train set. The train journey offers incredible scenic views such as Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, and all of the Animas River Gorge giving you an unforgettable Rocky Mountains experience. Bolstered by the assistance of former Rio Grande operating managers and a relatively sizeable staff of new employees, Bradshaw's plans were set in motion immediately. Hi, did anyone who travelled in the last week of November in the winter train see snow ? [25] During that time, it was used for oil-fired training in preparation for the D&SNG's conversion of their steam locomotives from coal to oil for fuel. 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. You dont even have to go on a trip. Palmer and his associates had agreed that the choice of 3ft (914mm) narrow-gauge would be well suited to the mountainous country, and relatively less expensive construction costs would enhance the viability of the new railroad. 498 is stored partially disassembled in. 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. 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. Silverton Steam Train Schedule 2022. [citation needed] To help continue service, motorcar 1001 now RB-1 and trailer 1002 now 313 took people out to Elk Park from Silverton. As the train turns around. In July 1881, the Denver & Rio Grande reached Durango and started building the final 45-mile stretch up the Animas River to Silverton. 480, 481, 482 and 486, all of which are operational. THE DURANGO AND SILVERTON ADD-ON ROUTE NOW FOR TRAIN SIMULATOR 2016. . The first 18 miles to Rockwood were completed by late November. We bought the ticket for a round trip from Durango to Silverton. We've done many things in the rain and always come home with great stories about our adventures. The labor crew, made up of mostly Chinese and Irish immigrants, blasted the canyon cliffs off and left a narrow, level shelf to lay the tracks on. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was originally built in 1881-82 as part of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway's effort to reach the rich mines of the San Juan Mountains.For decades, the line hauled ore from Silverton down to Durango, but after World War II its business shifted to tourism.It continues to be a major tourist attraction in southwest Colorado and has been named both . Find the most current Durango train schedule by clicking below. The company is converting a coal train, pictured, to run on oil in order to . The K-28s have 28,000lbf (124.550kN). 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. 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. 1880s vintage coaches were exquisitely restored and new coaches were added to the roster of rolling stock. The name comes from the fact that the first significant use of the type was a series built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Japanese Railways in 1887. In 1971 engine 42 returned to Golden as a restaurant display at Heritage Square. Be sure to stop by the Silverton Museum, Jail and Mining Heritage Center and uncover many artifacts of San Juan Countys past. All aboard! Considering Train from Durango to Silverton and the coach bus option back from Silverton to Durango. On display in the Museum, out of service. So, book a ticket to ride on this historic railway and see some of the most stunning wilderness that Colorado has to offer! We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. It runs during the summer time. Our Durango and Silverton passenger set comes complete with: 2-8-0 locomotive and tender with operating headlight, open excursion car, old-time combine car, old-time coach car, 47 x 38 oval of snap-fit E-Z track, power pack, and speed controller. #493 ran under its own power for the first time on January 24, 2020, and has been the D&SNG's primary piece of motive power throughout 2020 and 2021. Great ride and employees that like their job. And have dinner at the luxurious Strater Hotel, which will make your trip even better. When leaving we had to turn completely around to leave. The Silverton branch, as it became known, struggled under D&RG ownership following the Panic of 1893 and the end of free coinage of silver. It is a legacy that glitters in Silvertons elaborate Victorian-era architecture, reflecting the millions of dollars drawn from the earth during the mining boom of the late 1800s to early 1900s. During all four seasons, the train travels to Cascade Canyon which lies deep in the wilderness of the San Juan Mountains. It's called Durango, a little town nestled in the Animas canyons and . Theres no bad time of year for a Durango train ride, this journey offers scenic views for all ages, all throughout the year. Both cars were built as general passenger cars to help with the increase in passengers. Take the train to Silverton & ride the bus back to Durango, or take the bus to Silverton & ride the train back to Durango. It has room for 11 passengers. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Cinders & Smoke Steam Trains Guide to Durango to Silverton 1977 at the best online prices at eBay! Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. The D&RG reached Silverton on July 10, 1882. It depicts a narrow-gauge railroad similar to the D&RGW. Cost of ticket for Durango to Silverton train ride, We did the regular ticket and it was about $50 per person, Difference between steam and diesel trains, Not a big difference in riding experience. It offers views of some of the most scenic areas in the southwest and is one of the last locomotives in . Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Enjoy some sightseeing, shopping or dinner in Durango prior to your transportation via van back to Silverton. I believe you can go one way to Silverton then purchase a bus ticket back. It is used by Maintenance of Way. In March 1981, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) sold the line and the D&SNG was formed. *The first class Silver Vista car on the Silverton steam train is available May 21 through September 23, 2022. You can find the complete train schedule and associated . The schedule for the Animas River Railway remained the same. As of 2023, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad appears to operate nineteen locomotives, eight coal-fired and/or converted oil-fired steam locomotives and nine diesel locomotives. Diesel engine #1, nicknamed the "Hotshot", is a 50-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #2, nicknamed the P.B. 476 and 478 saw an extensive service on the San Juan passenger train, which ran between Durango, Colorado and Alamosa, Colorado until 1951. Poem: The Silverton Train. It's long enough, and not too long. The Galloping Goose Railbusses are products of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, a fleet of 7 home made railcars used to haul the US mail and some passengers during the Great Depression. Used as the Durango shop switcher. [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. Due to COVID, the trips are being offered without the bus transportation there or back. Below are the dates that each car is available for booking during the winter months of 2022. 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. The train is the subject of the song The Silverton, by C. W. The Durango Silverton train ride journey is available on over 300 days of the year and it departs from Durango, Colorado with a round trip, full day excursion. 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 "36" stands for 36,200lbf (161.026kN). Prospector: January 8 - April 3, April 24 - May 6Red Mountain: March 4 - May 6Cinco Animas: January 8 - January 30Knight Sky: January 1 - April 23Yankee Girl: January 1 - February 27, April 9 - May 6Alamosa: February 5 - May 6. From early May through October, the railroad transports passengers to and from Silverton, a visit thats like stepping back in time to the days of the Wild West and when gold and silver mining in the area was at its zenith. Ride the train on 45 miles of rails originally laid in 1882 between the historic mining town of Silverton and the railroad-built town of Durango, Colorado. Beginning May 7, 1988, a new diesel-hydraulic motorcar and trailer railbus began making trips out of Rockwood, Colorado up the Animas canyon. With this effort, "The Painted Train" officially started a new era of tourism that continues to this day. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad owner Al Harper is pictured at the train depot in Durango on June 21, 2019. [citation needed]. 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. It runs daily throughout the summer. It was reconverted to a full concession car by the D&SNG in 1982. The trip took us up into the Rocky Mountains with views of the San Juan National Forest as we traveled alongside the beautiful Animas River (the town that I hear is used for the opening scenery of the TV show (The Ranch). After arriving in Denver, he formulated a plan to build a 3ft (914mm) narrow-gauge railroad southward from Denver to El Paso, Texas[5] (see Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad). Many of these pieces run during the railroad's annual Railfest held every August. Silverton Colorado Train : r/Colorado - Reddit It was our first on the Diesel. The engine weighs 35 tons and pulls with 17,100lbs of tractive effort. Learn about the fascinating history of the area! Hotels near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum: Restaurants near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum: Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum. I recommend opting for a higher price package if you go as the coach was nothing better than a school bus on tracks. Looking for the Durango train schedule? I recommend the Cascade Canyon trip. The General Palmer was built in 1880 as a business car for the D&RG. In 1942, 215 had been sold to a Mexican railway. The numbers of the car were switched and the smaller car was sent to. The recreation of the Silver Vista was built in 2006. But, we had a bit of trouble with reservations for the type car we wanted, as our grandson is under 21. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Guests are encouraged to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. [8] A short time later, the railroad adorned a locomotive and four coaches with a colorful yellow paint scheme and launched modest public promotion. At the time, American Heritage Railways was headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Postcard TRAIN SCENE Between Durango & Silverton Colorado CO AO3271 at the best online prices at eBay! It was then rebuilt into an office living car for members of the Valuation Survey in 1919. There was a family that got on and off midway at Rockwood Station and I would HIGHLY recommend anyone interested look into that option. Open observation gondolas 400402 were built in 1963, equipped with passenger car trucks, steel roofs, tile floors and tramway seats. [16] As of 2023, the railroad aims to have most, if not all, of its operational steam locomotives converted to oil-power. The Silverton Freight Yard Museum was opened in 1999 and is located at the Silverton depot and rail yard. To experience a train up close and personal, book a locomotive car ride. Today, #50 is now on display at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. The price of a ticket also includes admission to the D&SNGRR Museum and the Silverton Freight Yard Museum. As the D&SNG works to convert more of its locomotives to oil, No. I think she could be a stand-up comedian. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad announced this week it has purchased four new diesel engines, including these being . 10,15. Silverton. Nicknamed the "Hotshot". Behind the scenes at the Durango Train. The 480s were used for freight-hauling throughout the D&RGW 3ft (914mm) narrow-gauge network. It was first steamed up and moved under its own power after 58 years on August 24, 2007, at the D&SNG roundhouse during a photography event. 483, which had not seen operation in several years. Valuation Survey was inventorying the entire railroad property after it was returned to the D&RGW after World War 1. For recorded phone information call: 303-639-1111 or instate toll free 877-315-7623. The Durango Train Seating Options - Mild to Wild Blog - Mild2WildRafting Cinders & Smoke Steam Trains Guide to Durango to Silverton 1977 - eBay Included in the sale were former D&RGW locomotives and rolling stock that had not seen service in Durango for many years. Planning Guides - Plan according to season or specialty. Highlights included canyon and creek views, and watching the train travel over a wooden bridge. Animas Forks, one of the best preserved ghost towns in the state of Colorado, is only 12 miles from Silverton. It was rebuilt in 1937 at the Alamosa shops. 31/2 hours! Given the fire risk from coal cinder-sparked wildfires, the railroad's owner plans to invest several million dollars to replace coal-power with oil-power for its steam locomotives and has acquired two new narrow-gauge diesel locomotives. Built in 1878, the Nomad was originally named Fairplay. There were 12:30p.m. and 6:00p.m. trips to Cascade Canyon. As others have stated, read the website thoroughly as it explains in detail everything you need to do to have an enjoyable experience. By 1881, the railroad reached Durango and by 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed. Engines pose less fire danger than coal-burning counterparts. We felt we wanted to sight see more in Durango rather than spend so much time on the train. Finally, in 1983 it was purchased and brought to Durango. She was very knowledgeable with stories and explaining the scenery. No. There was no escaping it but we didn't mind. SP No. 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. 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. It also had a baggage compartment and restroom. 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. Travel is through some of the most scenic areas in Colorado. Votes are . What restaurants are near Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum? The train will cross the riverfivetimes on its journey to Silverton, offering spectacular views from both sides of the train. Between Rockwood and Silverton it is a designated wilderness area and there is no motorized access. 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.
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