durango and silverton train
You can read about the basic differences below, or read a more in depth description on our Durango Silverton train classes page. 482 has been converted to an oil burner and is operational. After the Silver Vista was built in 2006, it became open observation car 410. From May 27 through September 15 Elk Park trips ran at 7:30a.m. and 3:30p.m. 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. Hop aboard to be the first to hear about upcoming events, specials, and train news. The last train to operate into Durango from the east was on December 6, 1968. Sold to the. Guests are encouraged to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. If you take a trip to Colorado, there is one place worth your while. Animas Forks, one of the best preserved ghost towns in the state of Colorado, is only 12 miles from Silverton. Concession car 212 was originally D&RG coach 20 built in 1879. 476 and 478 saw an extensive service on the San Juan passenger train, which ran between Durango, Colorado and Alamosa, Colorado until 1951. In 1950, the freight/mail compartment was converted to carry 20 additional passengers for sightseeing trips. 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. Half the roundhouse is used for the steam engines and the other half is for the museum. On April 8, 2021, it was announced that No. The D&S add-on route requires the Train Simulator 2016 game platform, . SP No. If you go up and back you see both sides. Locomotive No. 473 has been converted to an oil burner and is operational. Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. Downtown Silverton along Greene & Blair Streets boasts of a bold past and is designated as a National Historic District. The Durango and Silverton Railroad takes commuters through Colorado's San Juan National Forest. If you call the Rail Line they can answer any questions There was a family that got on and off midway at Rockwood Station and I would HIGHLY recommend anyone interested look into that option. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The museum features memorabilia from the D&RGW and other railroads. We left at 9AM and our attendant (Isaac) was very knowledgeable with stories and explaining the scenery. From leisurely rides to and from Silverton to . Here are the current train destination routes and times for the Summer and Fall. The General Palmer was built in 1880 as a business car for the D&RG. In the winter of 20062007 it was again rebuilt into an open air observation car with comfortable and large overstuffed seats for a more expansive view. 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. [17] In March, 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country severely affected the US. Built in 198788 winter, motorcar 1001 was named Tamarron. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It is on display at the Silverton Northern Engine House in the Summer, where D&RGW No. Witcher, Civil Engineering, March 2018, "D&RGW System Passenger Timetable - 1-Jun-1952", "Audio Portrait The last Train on the Silverton Branch", "416 Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System", "Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Closed Due To 416 Fire", "Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad bolsters fleet for dry years", "Is the Durango & Silverton Railroad to blame for the massive 416 fire? Silverton diesel train runs from May 21 - October 15. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Tall Timber Legend 631 & Tall Timber Legacy 632. Despite the overall demise of the RGS, 6 of the 7 "Geese" have survived today, and a couple of them have visited the D&SNG a few different times, most notably No. The "36" stands for 36,200lbf (161.026kN). 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 fun doesnt have to stop here, with easy access to hiking and mountain biking trails in the Uncompahgre and Weminuche Wilderness areas you have access toan abundance of alpine lakes, waterfalls, and fields of wildflowers. As the D&SNG works to convert more of its locomotives to oil, No. I wish we would have spent our 5 hours on another excursion such as zip lining or whitewater rafting or just simply hiking. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. 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. Between Rockwood and Silverton it is a designated wilderness area and there is no motorized access. Dan privately owns the engine, and on occasion brings it to various railroads to operate, including the D&SNG. 5 was built with a 1928 Pierce-Arrow limousine body and running gear, and was rebuilt in 1946-47 using a World War II surplus GMC gasoline truck engine and a Wayne Corporation school bus body. It was renumbered 350 in 1959. Firing while the engine is working hard is done with a large "heel" pattern, generally with as little coal on the flue sheet as possible, and gradually sloping the fire bed towards the door sheet to the height or higher than the firedoors. 2023 Durango Train Schedule. 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. Poem: The Silverton Train. Diesel engine #1, nicknamed the "Hotshot", is a 50-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #2, nicknamed the P.B. 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. Throughout the season, the river will rise from around 400 c.f.s (cubic feet per second) in April, to over 6,000 c.f.s at peak snowmelt runoff in June, and will mellow out again in September. 6 Reasons Your Family Will Love Spring Break at Purgatory Resort, 5 Things To Do On Your Day Off From Skiing, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Available seven days a week from May 1 - November 7, One departure daily from the Durango Depot at 9:30 am, Available seven days a week from May 22 -October 31, Two departures daily from the Durango Depot:the diesel train departure at 8:00 am;the steam departure at 9:00 am, This is a 9.25 roudtrip excursion3 1/2 hours on the train each way with a two-hour layover in Silverton. The price is just $15.00 and as with all of our merchandise, all proceeds go to benefit the Durango Railroad Historical Society. This ride was phenomenal but more than 5 hours would have been way too much for us. 5 was completely restored to operating condition in 1998 by the Galloping Goose Historical Society[24] in Dolores, Colorado. Our iconic 5-hour excursion offers breathtaking views of the Animas River, highline, and miles upon miles of rugged wilderness vistas as you travel through the Rocky Mountains of southwest Colorado. In 2009 it became a family upscale coach. Below are the dates that each car is available for booking during the winter months of 2022. But a huge part o. Each locomotive engine has two-wheel pilot truck, eight drive wheels and two wheels trailing truck behind the cab. Find the most current Durango train schedule by clicking below. The coach indoor was pretty warm on a summer day, the scenery was minimal for the majority of the trip. It saw limited service and acted as a backup concession car. Two departures daily from the Durango Depot: the diesel train departure at 8:00 am; the steam departure at 9:00 am. The D&SNGRR travels 45.4 miles each way along the Animas River from Durango to Silverton during our summer season May through October. Visit the Mayflower Mill, Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour, be deputized by the Silverton Gunfighters, or take a listen to the Silverton Brass Band; all offered May to October. Vestuable ends, train-line steam heat, electric lights, and deluxe Heywood-Wakefield reclining coach seats for 24 passenger were installed. 503 was originally a flat car built in the 1940s, then converted for use as a coach in 1982 by the, Cars 400405 and 411412 are former standard gauge, Cars 406409 and 413416 are former standard gauge. II, is a 45-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #4 is a 55-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #5 is a 45-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #7, nicknamed the "Big Al", is an 87-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #9 was first acquired by the D&SNG in March, 2006 and is a 92-ton center-cab diesel built by, Diesel engine #11, nicknamed the P.B., was built by, Diesel engine #1201 is one of two custom-built type MP2000NG diesels acquired from Motive Power and Equipment Solutions in 2018, in response to the, Diesel engine #1202 is one of two custom-built type MP2000NG diesels acquired from Motive Power and Equipment Solutions in 2018 in response to the, Diesel engine #1203 is a type DE75CT diesel built by, In April, 2020, it was announced that four, Concession car 64 was originally D&RG mail-baggage 64 built in 1889. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Once there, youll have 2 hours to explore the historic mining town of Silverton before the 3.5 hour train ride back to Durango. 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After a rebuild in 1937 it became a parlor-buffet car named Alamosa. This historic train has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, carrying passengers behind historic steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock indigenous to the line. 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". Excellent day trip to Silverton or Cascade in original passenger car or open window gondola. The D&SNG has two museums, one each in Durango and Silverton. This is an option offered on their website. The train was clean and some of the scenery was extremely beautiful. The seats on the train (in the car with the glass top) reversed so we always were able to sit going forward. We were served soft drinks (free) and were offered mixed drinks (for a fee). of tractive effort. Then, in July, 1998, the railroad was sold again, to American Heritage Railways. 119 was built in 1882. Today it is the oldest private railroad coach still in service in the United States. 84,641 were here. No. Built in 1878, the Nomad was originally named Fairplay. They empty the trains for 2 hours at Silverton so people can have lunch and walk around the town to visit shops and businesses. Converted from burning, Restored to operating condition in July, 1985. [4] Today, the D&SNG, along with the C&TSRR, are the only two remaining parts of the former D&RGW narrow-gauge network. *The first class Knight Sky car on the Silverton diesel train is available May 26 through September 19, 2022. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. No matter where you are riding on the train, the views of the Colorado back country are always truly stunning. We decided on the 5 hour Cascade Canyon and I am glad we did. Currently out of service. This site uses cookies for measurement, ads and optimization. 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 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. It was rebuilt in 1937 at the Alamosa shops. 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. Caboose No. Traded to the D&SNG in exchange for. 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. The cars currently have a limited capacity of 20 people so each family was able to spread out. Traded to the, Previously nicknamed the "PB-II". The Interstate Commerce Commission declined to grant the request due to the continued increase in tourist patronage. Enjoy some sightseeing, shopping or dinner in Durango prior to your transportation via van back to Silverton. Its modern amenities include internet service and a twenty-inch flat paneled television. There was a book available but for $10 but I feel as though they really could have made the experience worth the $$ If they narrated the ride. Hop aboard to be the first to hear about upcoming events, specials, and train news. 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. It was our first on the Diesel. 486 is undergoing an overhaul and conversion to an oil burner. The answer is there isnt a bad time. Athearn, Robert G. "Rebel of the Rockies" Yale University Press 1962. pp. Join us for a winter excursion on the Cascade Canyon Winter Train! 4 is a Class 8/18 C 4-4-0 locomotive, built in 1875 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. We really enjoyed the River at the Cascade Canyon stop where we packed a lunch. Both cars were built as general passenger cars to help with the increase in passengers. It runs daily throughout the summer. No. We normally take the steam engine. The K represents the nickname "Mikado" that describes a locomotive with two non-powered, pivoting wheels in front of eight driving wheels, which are connected to driving rods powered by the engine's pistons and finally two non-powered trailer wheels located under the cab. The Fairplay has hosted Presidents William H Taft, Ulysses S Grant and Theodore Roosevelt. I chatted with one family before boarding and they say the ride every year and prefer the open cars. (The Silverton route is a bit lengthy, and you get all the scenery you're looking for on the shorter Cascade Canyon route. Be sure to stop by the Silverton Museum, Jail and Mining Heritage Center and uncover many artifacts of San Juan Countys past. 0540 was built in 1881 and is a mini-warehouse, carrying the most common tools and supplies. Standard class steam excursions available every dayMay 28 - Aug 11, 2022 and Sep 2 - Oct 15, 2022. In October 2021, it was temporarily taken out of service for its Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) federally mandated 1,472-day inspection and overhaul, but later returned to service on March 8, 2023. The railroad is designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and is also an . Built in 1880, it was originally named the Hildago as Horton chair car number 25. Our Silverton offroad tours travel along the scenic byway from Durango to picturesque Silverton, Colorado. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. It originally was owned by the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad as No. D&SNG W0473 and D&RG 3543 on display, Silverton, October 2012. With the high elevation and brilliant sunshine,we recommend youhave a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen handy. Sold to private individual in 2020 for eventual restoration. Eureka and Palisade No. 241243, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Register of Historic Places portal, List of heritage railroads in the United States, "DurangoSilverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad", Cutting through Obstacles: The DurangoSilverton Narrow Gauge Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, by T.R. As the train turns around. It was restored in 2001 at a cost of $250,000 by the D&SNG. You can find the complete train schedule and associated . In 1886, it was rebuilt as Business Car N. It is reportedly the favorite car of D&RG president William Jackson Palmer. 6 hour trip reasonable priced, oil fired steam engine still authentic (coal sends out too much ash , could ignite ground fire)). There are bathrooms and a concession car that people were using. I think she could be a stand-up comedian.