Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Last revised: September 7, 2024
By: Adam Burns
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (or D&SNG), commonly known simply
as the Durango & Silverton, is one of the country's most popular
tourist railroads given the area in which it is located and the historic
equipment it uses.
Operating through the very scenic San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado the narrow gauge railroad offers arguably the best panoramic views from a train in the country.
The Durango & Silverton dates back to the early 1880s and today still uses classic steam locomotives (the very ones that operated between Durango and Silverton hauling freight during the early 20th century for the Rio Grande) to pull its trains in classic era passenger cars.
So, if ever you are in southwest Colorado I would strongly consider stopping by to see this historic and super scenic tourist railroad.
Photos
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge 2-8-2 #473 (K-28) leads an excursion along the high cliffs above the Animas River near Rockwood, Colorado during the early fall of 1982. American-Rails.com collection.History
The history of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad's line dates back to 1880 although the actual route between Silverton and Durango was not built and completed until 1881/1882.
Around 1880 the, then Denver & Rio Grande Railroad sought to build a branch from its main line at Antonio, Colorado into the southwestern regions of the state, as well as northwestern New Mexico to serve the area's booming silver mine industry.
What became known as its San Juan Extension (as the mines were located in the San Juan Mountains) eventually reached such mining towns as Chama, Silverton, Durango, and Farmington although a three-foot gauge line to save both money and construction time.
It's the early Durango & Silverton era as Rio Grande 2-8-2 #478 (K-28) leads an excursion through the Animas Canyon along the Animas River in Colorado during July of 1980. American-Rails.com collection.While the line became quite profitable for the Rio Grande the narrow-gauge setup hampered freight interchange resulting in the railroad's plan to upgrade the line to standard gauge.
However, the Sherman Act of 1893, which looked to regulate the amount of silver being produced in the country (at the time, mines were producing so much silver that supply outstripped demand), devastated the region's mining industry.
As a result, the Rio Grande was forced to cancel its plans to standard gauge its San Juan Extension.
The act essentially killed the route and while it remained a part of the Rio Grande system through the late 1960s, and even saw a brief boom of profitability following World War II (due to natural gas exploration), the extension operated at a loss (or breakeven) throughout the rest of its days under Rio Grande control.
Finally, in 1969 the railroad obtained permission from the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon all operations west of Antonio, at which time the states of New Mexico and Colorado stepped in to save portions of the route in 1970.
They jointly purchased the line between Chama and Antonio (now operated as the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic) while Colorado additionally picked up the Silverton Route between Silverton and the junction of Durango (here the Rio Grande once had three lines diverging north, south, and east).
Durango & Silverton 2-8-2 #476 (K-28) steams over the Animas River as she departs Durango, Colorado, circa 1984. American-Rails.com collection.Not only did the states get the rail lines during these purchases but also nearly all of the steam locomotives, freight cars/equipment, and buildings/shops (some of which were donated by the Rio Grande).
In total, the D&SNG received eight original Denver & Rio Grande Western steam locomotives while the C&TS picked up nine.
Today, nearly all of these are operational. Currently, the Durango & Silverton’s passenger trains are pulled by these vintage and authentic narrow gauge steam locomotives that operate over a 45-mile route between Durango and Silverton.
Locomotive Roster
Diesel
- #1 – General Electric 44-tonner
- #7 – General Electric 87-tonner
- #9 – General Electric 92-tonner
- #11 – General Electric/US Steel 98-tonner
Steam
All steam locomotives are of Denver & Rio Grande Western lineage.
- #473 – American Locomotive Company K-28
- #476 – American Locomotive Company K-28
- #478 – American Locomotive Company K-28
- #480 – Baldwin Locomotive Works K-36
- #481 – Baldwin Locomotive Works K-36
- #482 – Baldwin Locomotive Works K-36
- #486 – Baldwin Locomotive Works K-36
- #498 – Baldwin Locomotive Works K-37
Durango & Silverton 2-8-2 #478 (K-28) is seen here in service during the 1980s. The locomotive was taken out of service in 2016 and is not currently operable. American-Rails.com collection.Excursions
The Durango & Silverton has come an awfully long way since its early days of the 1970s. Today, the railroad offers a year-round schedule although it varies depending on the winter or summer season.
Additionally, they also offer passengers four different choices of accommodations during excursions including standard coach, deluxe, first class, and the ultra-posh Presidential Class (which includes comfy seating and complimentary refreshments).
So, if you’re interested in a different type of vacation or want to ride on one of the most scenic and historic tourist railroads in the country you must take a trip to see the Durango & Silverton, it is certainly an experience you won’t forget!
For more information about the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad please click here to visit their website. There you can learn more about all of their available trains and pricing for each.
The website also includes their operating schedule as well as lodging and things to do around the area.
Finally, if you are interested in planning your trip in advance they partner with local businesses to offer vacation packages.
If you would like to learn a bit more about the history of the Denver & Rio Grande Western please click here.
Recent Articles
-
Milwaukee Road Diesel Roster: (All Time)
Oct 26, 26 01:44 PM
All-time diesel roster of the Milwaukee Road. 1,208 locomotives, each frame once. Alco, Baldwin, Davenport, EMD, Fairbanks-Morse, General Electric, and Whitcomb, with builder numbers. -
Milwaukee Road Steam Roster (All-Time): Post-1900
Oct 26, 26 01:38 PM
Milwaukee Road steam locomotives built since 1900. Prairies, Mikados, the N-class articulateds, the S-class 4-8-4s, and the Hiawatha Atlantics and Hudsons. Quantity column 1,974. Unique frames 1,951. -
Milwaukee Road: Map, Electrification, Logo, History
Oct 26, 26 01:20 PM
The Milwaukee Road, from the Milwaukee & Mississippi of 1850 to the Pacific Coast Extension, the Hiawathas, and the Soo Line sale. Why Lines West should have stayed. -
Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad: Map, Roster, History
Oct 25, 26 11:38 PM
Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad, reporting mark LSI, from the Marquette Range to the Presque Isle ore dock. The 1954 steam list and the diesels the railroad owned. -
Kansas City Southern Steam Roster (Built Since 1900)
Oct 25, 26 09:09 PM
Steam locomotives of the Kansas City Southern built since 1900, with the Louisiana & Arkansas and the Texas company. -
Kansas City Southern Diesel Roster (Built New)
Oct 25, 26 11:46 AM
All-time diesel roster of the Kansas City Southern. E units, F units, Geeps, SD40s through SD70ACes, Fairbanks-Morse, Baldwin, Alco, and General Electric, with serials and order numbers. -
Kansas City Southern Railway: Map, Photos, History
Oct 25, 26 12:24 AM
The Kansas City Southern, from Arthur Stilwell's Gulf line to Canadian Pacific Kansas City on April 14, 2023. Steam and diesel rosters, the Southern Belle, and the Louisiana & Arkansas. -
Indiana Harbor Belt Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 25, 26 12:17 AM
All-time diesel roster of the Indiana Harbor Belt. 202 locomotive frames, each counted once. NW2s, SW7s, SW1500s, road switchers, and gensets. Slugs and boosters are outside the count. -
Indiana Harbor Belt Steam Roster (Built Since 1900)
Oct 25, 26 12:13 AM
Steam locomotives of the Indiana Harbor Belt built since 1900. 182 engines, each counted once. 0-6-0s, 2-6-0s, 0-8-0s, and 2-8-2s. The three U-4a switchers are three-cylinder Brooks engines of 1927. -
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad: Map, Rosters, History
Oct 25, 26 12:00 AM
Indiana Harbor Belt, the inner belt across the Calumet, from the East Chicago Belt of May 16, 1896. Renamed June 29, 1907. Still operating, headquarters Hammond. Steam roster is the companion, 182 loc… -
NYC's "P Motor" Electric Locomotives
Oct 24, 26 11:43 PM
New York Central P motors: 22 Alco-GE 2-C+C-2 electrics, Cleveland Union Terminal 1050–1071, class P-1a. 3,030 hp one-hour on 3,000-volt DC catenary, then 660-volt third rail as P-2a and P-2b. -
Illinois Terminal Car Roster
Oct 24, 26 11:40 PM
Illinois Terminal cars. Mainline motors, the 1948 streamliners, sleepers, Alton and Valley Division cars, express motors, and the line cars rebuilt from pull cars. -
Illinois Terminal Diesel Roster
Oct 24, 26 09:31 PM
All-time Illinois Terminal diesels, 62 frames. Alco S-2s and RS-1s, EMD switchers, GP7s, SD39s, GP38-2s, and the two GP20s. Serial numbers from the 1989 roster. -
Illinois Terminal Electric Locomotives
Oct 24, 26 08:22 PM
Illinois Terminal electric locomotives, 57 frames. Class A through Class D, the Decatur-built motors, and the battery locomotives. Class D is the same five Class C frames, rebuilt. -
Illinois Terminal Steam Roster
Oct 24, 26 07:37 PM
Illinois Terminal steam locomotives, 36 frames. Baldwin Moguls, three Class 30 Mikados, Florida East Coast 0-8-0s, and 2-6-0 No. 21, the last fire on June 30, 1950. -
Illinois Terminal Railroad: Map, Roster, Photos, History
Oct 24, 26 07:32 PM
Illinois Terminal, McKinley's Illinois Traction System, from the Danville coal towns to St. Louis. The McKinley Bridge, the sleeping cars, the 1937 break with the power company, the 1948 streamliners… -
Southern Railway Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 23, 26 11:00 PM
All-time diesel roster of the Southern Railway. 2,505 locomotives in the system number series, from the 1939 demonstrator FT to GP50s and B30-7A1s. Serials included. -
Illinois Central Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 23, 26 04:06 PM
Illinois Central and Illinois Central Gulf diesel locomotives, each frame once. The quantity column is 886. Serials and order numbers from Electro-Motive's builder lists. Paducah rebuilds and Gulf, Mo… -
Illinois Central Gulf Diesel Roster
Oct 23, 26 04:02 PM
Illinois Central Gulf operating numbers from August 10, 1972, to February 29, 1988. New frames stay on the Illinois Central diesel roster. Gulf, Mobile and Ohio frames stay on that roster. No Gulf fle… -
Illinois Central Railroad: Map, Logo, History
Oct 23, 26 03:50 PM
Illinois Central, the Main Line of Mid-America, from the 1850 land grant to Canadian National control on July 1, 1999. Charter lines, Cairo bridge, Paducah, and the Illinois Central Gulf. Steam quanti… -
Grand Trunk Western Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Oct 23, 26 12:53 PM
Grand Trunk Western diesel locomotives, each frame once. The quantity column is 377. Serials are filled for the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton and Detroit and Toledo Shore Line engines the railroad kept… -
Grand Trunk Western Steam Roster
Oct 23, 26 12:14 PM
Grand Trunk Western steam locomotives in service about 1937 to 1942, from Richard Leonard's class list. Drury has no chapter. The quantity column is the counted Grand Trunk Western rows. Two mixed Gra… -
Grand Trunk Western Railroad: Map, Roster, History
Oct 23, 26 12:09 PM
Grand Trunk Western, reporting mark GTW, Canadian National's railroad between Port Huron and Chicago. Trade name adopted in 1923. Steam class list quantity 232. Diesel quantity column 377. Identity in… -
Green Bay and Western Railroad: Map, Rosters, History
Oct 22, 26 11:18 PM
Green Bay & Western, the Green Bay Route, reporting mark GBW. From Kewaunee to Winona. Mailer's steam and diesel rosters, and the August 1993 sale to Fox Valley & Western. -
Chicago & North Western Class E-4: Streamlined 4-6-4 Hudsons
Oct 22, 26 10:28 PM
C&NW Class E-4, nine streamlined 4-6-4s, 4001–4009, Alco 1938. 84-inch drivers, 25-by-29 cylinders, 300 psi. Conventional Chicago–Omaha trains. Oil in 1947–48. Retired 1953–1956. -
Gateway Western Railway: Map, Roster, History
Oct 22, 26 02:43 PM
Gateway Western Railway, reporting mark GWWR. Class II from Kansas City to East St. Louis. Kansas City Southern control May 5, 1997. The 1992 diesel fleet, with serials and order numbers.
%20leads%20an%20excursion%20along%20the%20high%20cliffs%20above%20the%20Animas%20River%20near%20Rockwood%2C%20Colorado%20during%20the%20early%20fall%20of%201982.%20American-Rails.com%20collection.){kind=link}
%20leads%20an%20excursion%20through%20the%20Animas%20Canyon%20along%20the%20Animas%20River%20in%20Colorado%20during%20July%20of%201980.%20%20American-Rails.com%20collection.){kind=link}
%20steams%20over%20the%20Animas%20River%20as%20she%20departs%20Durango%2C%20Colorado%2C%20circa%201984.%20American-Rails.com%20collection.){kind=link}
%20is%20seen%20here%20in%20service%20during%20the%201980s.%20%20The%20locomotive%20was%20taken%20out%20of%20service%20in%202016%20and%20is%20not%20currently%20operable.%20%20American-Rails.com%20collection.){kind=link}