May 11, 2023
This was the day we had planned, my first train ride, an old steam engine train to take us through the mountains from Durango to Silverton. Was also our first year anniversary, May 11, 2023! We hadn’t planned it that way but worked out to be fantastic. Side note, our train ticket placed us in seat number 11 also. 🙂 Train ride up to Silverton and back is actually like stepping back in time.
Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. 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 Southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized it was the view that was truly precious.
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. It is a family-friendly ride sure to create memories that will last a lifetime while offering a view of Colorado’s mountain splendor inaccessible by highway. Relive the sights and sounds of yesteryear for a spectacular journey on board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. (All Aboard-Magazine)
Departing from the Durango Depot, this trip takes you up into the Rocky Mountains with views of the San Juan National Forest traveling alongside the Animas River on your way to the historic mining town of Silverton. We chose the deluxe San Juan Coach, tickets were $139 each round trip. For me it was well worth it, the view/scenery was unbelievable! Was told the San Juan Coach was actually an original coach refurbished to it’s original state. Photo below taken inside the coach from our seat.
Much more about the trains and some facts on the railroad can be found on the Durango & Silverton Blog https://www.durangotrain.com/blog/
This trip consumes your complete day. Though the distance to Silverton is approximately 45 miles the steam engine train only averages about 18 mph and stops at least once going up and again back down to take on water. Takes 3 1/2 hours each way, two hours are allowed in Silverton to look around, eat and shop. In other words plan for about nine hours to complete this trip.
As soon as we got off the train in Silverton, found this quaint little restaurant, Natalia’s totally prepared, ready for a group of people visiting to eat. In other words this wasn’t their first time doing this. Some photo’s of Natalia’s below, which by the way was originally a bordello built in 1883. Food was great.
A tad disappointed in Silverton, wasn’t what we expected, thought it would be bigger? Only two or three streets, none were paved, packed gravel type streets. There was snow that had not melted yet and forecast was for more snow. Sleet and rain were falling which made for messy streets and damp, chilly atmosphere but not unbearably cold. Didn’t stop us from shopping, found a couple of t-shirts and sweat shirts for keepsakes. Only allowed two hours so after eating and doing some quick shopping it was time to board and do the return trip to Durango.
The Silverton elevation was 9,318 ft.
As usual took lots of photos, below is just a small sample of what we saw. It’s a trip everyone should do once, but not sure a second time is warranted for me.
It was a great day, scenery was fantastic and for me being on a train for the first time, yeah, it was AWESOME! Cross that one off the bucket list, but I still want to take a long train ride maybe across country, something that would take several days.
We’re back in the hotel now working on where we stay tomorrow night. First discussed Provo, Utah but as things progressed our final decision was West Jordan, Utah! See ya there.
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Ray's Motoring Travels 