We were coming around the mountain, and up the mountain and down the mountain. But mainly we were going 45 miles up the mountain. From Durango to Silverton we traveled from an elevation of 6500 feet to over 9700 feet on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It was an experience traveling through the backcountry wilderness of the San Juan Mountains on an historic narrow gauge steam train. Beautiful scenery was around every bend.
Dave was our guide. He was knowledgable about the history of the area and the railroad. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of that same year. By July of 1882 (just nine months after the construction began) the tracks to Silverton were completed. They laid the rails through a Colorado winter. Burr! The purpose of the train was to carry gold and silver ore, but early on passengers realized the fantastic views available on the rails from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. The scenic line has been in continuous operation ever since.
Sweet Mother of Pearl! We were on the edge of the mountain!
We traveled along the Animas River through valleys, canyons, and forest. It is understandable why this line was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1968.
FYI: The tree line on a mountain is at about 11,500 feet. These mountains are over 14,000 feet. We stopped to let a group of hikers off who were hiking to the top of this mountain. Dear Gussie! Can you imagine? There are between 48 and 52 mountains taller than 14,000 feet in Colorado, and many of the hikers have a goal of climbing all of them. I am impressed since a stay at the Holiday Inn is about as close to camping as I ever get.
The Quaking Aspens and Cottonwoods were just beginning to show their vibrant colors. I was so taken with their beauty that I took a bazillion pictures of these glorious yellow trees. (Don’t worry. I will not bore you with all those pictures.)
It was breathtakingly beautiful, and they say in about two weeks it will be even more glorious.
We had to stop once each way for water. Here is the old water tower. The train uses 1,800 pounds of coal per round trip. (Did I really hear that correctly? – because someone has to shovel all that coal.)
Now get this. These historical trains are 100% coal fired and steam-operated. They are vintage 1920’s trains that are maintained in original condition. I liked it – I loved it!
When we arrived in Silverton, it was like stepping back in time. In the 1950’s Hollywood discovered Silverton because it was a town that had retained its Wild West flavor. Stars such as Clark Gable (“Across the Wide Missouri”), Jimmy Stewart (“The Naked Spur” and “Night Passage”), James Cagney (“Run for Cover”), Janet Leigh (“The Naked Spur”), Barbara Stanwyck (“The Maverick Queen”), and Robert Redford, and Paul Newman (“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”) all made movies in and around Silverton. This is just a partial list. Silverton is not much different today. It still feels like you are in a time warp.
Then we traveled 45 miles down the mountain for a return trip to Durango. Again we saw breathtaking scenery, but this time it was from the other side of the train. (You can take a bus on the return trip.)
It was a long but wonderful day. The weather has been perfect, and we have seen and experienced things today that are beyond magnificent.
Blessings to you and yours!
Point of interest:
When the bark of the Ponderosa Pine turns orange, it is an indication that the tree is over eighty years old – so Dave told us. (Just trying to educate you!)