It was originally designed to be an ambulance servicing the Sunnyside Mine in Eureka, Colorado, and was often used by mine officials to commute to Silverton on the Silverton Northern Railroad. The train's speed is about 12 mph and you were welcomed to get up to stand at either end of the train. IMHO you can only make small talk with strangers for so long - Ha! Enjoy some sightseeing, shopping or dinner in Durango prior to your transportation via van back to Silverton. 315 is a C-18 locomotive, built in 1895 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. We were on the Knight Sky car. Sold to the. I believe you can go one way to Silverton then purchase a bus ticket back. The coal fired steam locomotive will be chugging its way down the same track that the miners, settlers and cowboys of the Old West took nearly a century ago. You can find the complete train schedule and associated classes of service offered for both of these Silverton trains at Durangotrain.com. All locomotives were eventually restored to operating condition. No. In March, 1997, Bradshaw sold the D&SNG to First American Railways, Inc., located in Hollywood, Florida. 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. That turned us off so they lost a sale. One of the most popular ways to get from Durango to Silverton is by taking the Durango train. The price of a ticket also includes admission to the D&SNGRR Museum and the Silverton Freight Yard Museum. Just as narrow-gauge equipment and parts are rare, narrow-gauge railroads are rare these days too. [4] Today, the D&SNG, along with the C&TSRR, are the only two remaining parts of the former D&RGW narrow-gauge network. Im going to book for July and I am unsure of which car to book. For recorded phone information call: 303-639-1111 or instate toll free 877-315-7623. This trade was mutually beneficial for both railroads as it gave the C&TSRR a fully operational locomotive, giving in exchange a locomotive that had never run and likely would never operate under C&TSRR ownership. The round trip excursion will take around eight hours and there are numerous special excursions and themed trips throughout the year. The railway is a federally-designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil . The ceiling of the Prospector features an enlarged route map, making it easy for passengers to follow the train's progress along the route. 480 has been converted to an oil burner and is operational. more. Traded to the, Previously nicknamed the "PB-II". 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. Included in the sale were former D&RGW locomotives and rolling stock that had not seen service in Durango for many years. So, book a ticket to ride on this historic railway and see some of the most stunning wilderness that Colorado has to offer! Be sure to stop by the Silverton Museum, Jail and Mining Heritage Center and uncover many artifacts of San Juan Countys past. While being owned by several parties between 1951 and 1982 the Fairplay was renamed the Nomad. 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. First class train car availability differs from month to month. Concession car 126 was originally D&RG baggage car 27. 478 is placed on display in the D&SNG Museum awaiting an overhaul in the distant future. All Aboard! There were 12:30p.m. and 6:00p.m. trips to Cascade Canyon. We booked a 9 AM steam engine train in an open air gondola car. They directed us to park at an angle. One way was plenty. Silverton. It is a National Historic Landmark as well as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. 10,15. Throughout the year this space is available to rent for your special occasion! The train makes it easy to have a perfect, painless trip. Built in 1880, it was originally named the Hildago as Horton chair car number 25. I think she could be a stand-up comedian. The original northsouth plans of the D&RG eventually expanded to include extensions throughout the booming mining country of central and southwestern Colorado. 1923 Nash Roadster (left) and 1924 Model T Ford (right), Sears & Roebuck buggy from the 19th century. Welcome to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad! *The first class Knight Sky car on the Silverton diesel train is available May 26 through September 19, 2022. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org, Addiction has found its way to Southwest Colorado; robust treatment services have not, Leaving friends, family and community for treatment is hard, but some have little choice, Durango Transit to expand U.S. Highway 160 west route to Crestview neighborhood, Report a paper delivery issue/suspend delivery. The locomotives are 470 series Class K28 engines with a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. It depicts a narrow-gauge railroad similar to the D&RGW. We bought the ticket for a round trip from Durango to Silverton. Operating year-round, the Durango Train is a wonderful way to witness the changing of the seasons, learn about the rich history of Durango and the states railroading industry, and experience the dramatic alpine landscapes of southwest Colorado. It could seat 32 people and had a 300-horsepower (220kW) six-cylinder Caterpillar engine. 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. Guests are encouraged to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. Browse different rides & seasonal events. 315. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. I would definitely do the train trip again, but next time do the one way trip. The D&SNG owns four K-36s: Nos. 425 and, after the railroad was reorganized into D&RGW in 1924, it became No. We ended up waiting until others had left to make it easier to turn around. We really enjoyed the River at the Cascade Canyon stop where we packed a lunch. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. Thinking this might be a good alternative? A National Historic Landmark and one of the most popular heritage railroads in North America, this train offers a unique . Silverton steam train runs from May 7 - October 29. 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 winter train, which is Durango to Cascade and back, is 5.25 hours round trip (this includes an hour at cascade to walk around and have lunch - they even have a covered pavilion with a fireplace). No. You dont even have to go on a trip. The Silverton Freight Yard Museum was opened in 1999 and is located at the Silverton depot and rail yard. You can find the complete train schedule and associated . Site developed by Agency Tourism Marketing, Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #5 Excursions, K-28 100th Anniversary Fall Photo Special, Ghost Crawl: Haunted Durango Train Museum Experience. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 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. Open observation gondolas 400402 were built in 1963, equipped with passenger car trucks, steel roofs, tile floors and tramway seats. Bachmann Trains - Durango & Silverton Ready To Run Electric Train Set Its modern amenities include internet service and a twenty-inch flat paneled television. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad on Twitter: "Behind the [citation needed], The observation car on the Silverton route in 1951. 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! The United States Transportation Corps. It was restored in 2001 at a cost of $250,000 by the D&SNG. 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 . 18 has been a vital resource serving as a helper. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The train operates on different schedules seasonally and sometimes there are even exciting events taking place on board or in Silverton. Bolstered by national exposure via Hollywood movies being filmed along the line in the late 1940s, the railroad created The Silverton, a summer-only train service, on June 24, 1947. In 1957 it was converted for coach service. In 1871, the Denver & Rio Grande Railway began to lay rails south from Denver. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. 315 has been operating on special excursions and charters at the C&TSRR on loan by the DRHS until at least 2025. We normally take the steam engine. Both cars were built as general passenger cars to help with the increase in passengers. Durango and Silverton Railroad up for third win - krqe.com of tractive effort, superheated, and the boilers are fed by two non-lifting injectors. Engines pose less fire danger than coal-burning counterparts. I called to see how people managed and was told that people who booked the one-way trip had someone who was not taking . [citation needed] No. Sunday, Apr 30, 2023 4:15 AM. We arrived at the Rockwood Station around 8:30 and were surprised by how many people were already there. Make sure to check out our deals for kids, seniors, military and frequent riders before booking and special discounts on select departures. Yes, give them a call. Bing Maps - Directions, trip planning, traffic cameras & more Site developed by Agency Tourism Marketing, Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #5 Excursions, K-28 100th Anniversary Fall Photo Special, Ghost Crawl: Haunted Durango Train Museum Experience, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Sold to private individual in 2020 for eventual restoration. Behind the scenes at the Durango Train. People of all ages enjoy riding through the stunning mountain and forest scenery on train. Vestuable ends, train-line steam heat, electric lights, and deluxe Heywood-Wakefield reclining coach seats for 24 passenger were installed. The season for the Animas River Railway was supposed to last from May 7 through October 30, but lasted until September 4 due to mechanical problems. The first 18 miles to Rockwood were completed by late November. No. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Built by the D&RG in 1887, it had clerestory roof and bullnose ends. Due to COVID, the trips are being offered without the bus transportation there or back. It was reconverted to a full concession car by the D&SNG in 1982. (The Silverton route is a bit lengthy, and you get all the scenery you're looking for on the shorter Cascade Canyon route. 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. In response to the 416 fire, the D&SNG announced their plans to restore #493 publicly and that the locomotive was their first candidate for an oil conversion, with more to come in the future. View the Round trip schedule & fares. Because of its popularity, there has been speculation that the D&RGW destroyed it on purpose to drive revenue down so they could abandon the line from Silverton to Antonito. On our winter trips late November through early May, the train travels 26 mileseach wayto the wye at Cascade Station. All rights reserved. Standard class steam excursions available every dayMay 28 - Aug 11, 2022 and Sep 2 - Oct 15, 2022. Durango railroad purchases four diesel locomotives durango and silverton narrow gauge railroad. 486 at Royal Gorge Park, including the tender from #498. The train stops a couple times to let off or on hikers which I did not know about. This journey is a feast for the senses and a treat for anyone who loves history and nature. 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. 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.