REAL LIFE USA NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY
DURANGO & SILVERTON SCENIC RAILROAD
Another famous historic narrow gauge railroad located in Colorado is the Durango & Silverton Railroad which runs from the town of Durango to the former mining settlement of Silverton in the San Juan Mountains. This is probably my favourite narrow gauge railway and a great day out if you are ever in the area.
Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1879. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. By July of 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling both freight and passengers.
The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from the San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realised it was the spectacular scenery that was truly precious and as a result passenger trains pulled behind vintage steam locomotives and rolling stock indigenous to the line have been operating continuously for 130 years.
GREAT SCENIC RAILROAD JOURNEYS - DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD
Produced & filmed by Robert C. Van Camp
Program Running Time 30 Minutes
Climb on board with Great Scenic Railway Journeys as we explore one of America’s favourite and oldest railways. With continuous rail operation spanning three centuries, you can almost hear the voices of the men who laboured to build the line through the winter of 1881-1882 while you ride aboard vintage cars pulled by an authentic steam-powered locomotive indigenous to the line. The train travels through some of the most pristine and impressive landscapes in Southwest Colorado.
This Public Television documentary will trace this line’s history from its conception to its near abandonment to being one of the most treasured tourist railroads in the world. We will also introduce you to the men and women that help keep this historic equipment running the rails today.
We will tour Durango and Silverton’s train museum, Housed in 8 stalls of the 17-stall roundhouse. the 12,000-square-foot museum is filled with thousands of authentic train artefacts, along with locomotives and rolling stock.
Came across this video of a "Special 1949 Run Recreation" on YouTube and just had to add it to the collection. Chasing and Riding the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroads' 21st Annual Fall Photographer's Special. In 2010, the railroad painted some coaches Pullman Green, and relettered the equipment for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad as it would have been in 1949. Little touches to bring out the era were included, such as people in 1949 period clothing (the photographer included who is in the red & black flannel in the Silverton scene), automobiles, water-bags on the cab, and the Original Rocky Mountain Railroad Club Drumhead on the rear of the train. An interesting note, even the whistle on the 473 was used on sister engine 478 during the recreated period.
This is probably my favourite Narrow Gauge Railroad in the USA - the Durango & Silverton. This HD video captures the scenic journey from Durango, Colorado to the former silver mining settlement at Silverton in the San Juan Mountains. This heritage line is very popular with tourists and is one of the few places in the United States which has seen continuous use of and is one of the few places in the United States which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives.
This is a slightly different take on a visit to the Durango & Silverton Railroad resulting from a Motorcycle Tour of Western America from "Roadliner Productions". The photography really captures the essence of the line. The D&NSG Railroad is considered to be the No 1 North American Train Trip (and I certainly subscribe to that view).
The day long trip starts in Durango, Colorado, at 6,512' and climbs up to Silverton, at 9,318', following the Animas River. After lunch at Silverton it returns to Durango.
Published on 4 Aug 2013