Durango & Silverton Repairs Track After Continued Flooding

Published: November 2, 2026

DURANGO, Colo. — Flooding that began in late October is still occupying the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Railfan & Railroad reported on November 2 that crews are repairing washouts, debris flows, and high-water damage, and that the railroad has been running steam-powered work trains along the line. The shortened Highline Express ran from October 27 through November 1. The railroad says the work is timed for the Polar Express and the Cascade Canyon winter trains later this month.

Durango and Silverton 2-8-2 478 with excursion through the Animas Canyon in July of 1980

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.

The Animas and the ballast

The Durango Herald reported that the Animas River reached 11,200 cubic feet per second at 2 p.m. on October 23. That was nearly eight times the earlier 2026 peak of 1,450 cubic feet per second on May 15, and less than half the estimated record. The Herald put the October 5, 1911, flood at an estimated 25,000 cubic feet per second and the June 29, 1927, flood at an estimated 20,000. The rain was the remnant of Hurricane Trudy, 3 to 5 inches across southwest Colorado in about 24 hours on Thursday.

The railroad suspended operations on Friday, October 23. Jeff Johnson, vice president and general manager, told Trains that the trains would run from Durango to the Highline just north of Rockwood, where the Animas lies hundreds of feet below. Trains reported that the line between Durango and Rockwood had been restored, and that crews were clearing minor track washouts, debris flows, and other high-water damage between Rockwood and Silverton.

Johnson told the Herald that floodwater washed away nearly 18 inches of ballast under the track near Trimble Lane. “It really scoured it all out underneath the track,” he said. A Speed Swing operated by Robert Manore cleared debris in the Animas Valley on Saturday. The Herald said the next work would tear out damaged track north of the Tacoma power plant and replace ties. Johnson said service through to Silverton had already been scheduled to end on Sunday. The railroad’s Silverton page still lists steam trips through November 1.

Railfan & Railroad reported another round of heavy rain and flooding over Halloween weekend. On November 2 the magazine said the repairs were to be finished in time for the holiday trains. “For us, preserving history includes this work,” the railroad said on social media. “It means caring for the route itself and carrying on the knowledge and craftsmanship that have kept trains moving through these mountains for generations. Tools and equipment have changed, but the responsibility to maintain the track and look after one another remains.”

The Highline Express

The railroad’s Highline Express page lists the trip for October 27 through November 1, leaving Durango at 9 a.m. and returning at 12:45 p.m. The page describes a three-and-a-half-hour ride through the Animas Valley to the Highline. The railroad says the line is a 45-mile branch of the Denver & Rio Grande, in service since 1882, and a narrow-gauge route through the San Juan Mountains.

The Polar Express page lists those trains from November 20, 2026, through January 2, 2027. Johnson told the Herald on October 26 that the Polar Express remained on schedule to begin November 20.

Cumbres & Toltec

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, on another stretch of the former Rio Grande narrow gauge, canceled the rest of its 2026 regular season. Railfan & Railroad reported that the cancellations covered October 23 through 25, the last days of the season, and that the railroad put the safety of passengers, employees, and crew first. Guests with tickets for those trains were to hear directly about rebooking or refunds.

Trains reported on October 26 that a private photo charter organized by Pete Lerro for October 27 and 28 was still on. Both days were to run from Antonito, Colorado, because of flood damage near Chama, New Mexico. The original plan had been Chama to Osier on the first day and Antonito to Osier on the second. The railroad told Trains that Santa’s Holiday Express was still planned, on December 5 and 6 from Chama and on December 12 and 13 from Antonito.

Sources

Railfan & Railroad, Nick Stewart, November 2, 2026. Washouts, debris flows, and high-water damage. Steam-powered work trains. Another round of rain and flooding over Halloween weekend. Highline Express paused October 23, resumed October 27, and ran through November 1. Repairs to be finished in time for the Polar Express and the Cascade Canyon winter trains later this month. The railroad social-media remark on preserving the route. About 45 miles of the former Rio Grande narrow gauge. Cumbres & Toltec ended its regular season early.
Railfan & Railroad, Nick Stewart, on the Cumbres & Toltec cancellation. Announced Friday. Remaining regular-season excursions canceled, covering October 23 through 25. Safety of passengers, employees, and crew. Guests to hear about rebooking or refunds. Flooding left portions of the right-of-way unsafe.
Trains, October 26, 2026. Heavy rain since October 21. Durango & Silverton ceased operations October 23. Durango to Rockwood restored. Crews clearing minor track washouts, debris flows, and other high-water damage between Rockwood and Silverton. Jeff Johnson, vice president and general manager, on the Highline Express from October 27 through November 1, with the Animas hundreds of feet below, just north of Rockwood. Cumbres & Toltec announced October 23 that the remainder of the regular season was canceled. October 23 through 25 had been the final weekend. Pete Lerro charter, October 27 and 28, still on, both days from Antonito because of flood damage near Chama. Santa’s Holiday Express still planned: December 5 and 6 from Chama, December 12 and 13 from Antonito.
Durango Herald, Shane Benjamin, October 25, 2026. Animas peaked at 11,200 cubic feet per second at 2 p.m. Friday in Durango. Nearly eight times the prior 2026 peak of 1,450 cubic feet per second on May 15. Less than half the highest recorded flow. October 5, 1911, estimated 25,000 cubic feet per second. June 29, 1927, estimated 20,000 cubic feet per second. Remnants of Hurricane Trudy, 3 to 5 inches across southwest Colorado in about 24 hours on Thursday.
Durango Herald, Tyler Brown, October 26, 2026, updated October 27. Service to resume Tuesday to the Highline north of Rockwood. Operations suspended Friday. Crews working north toward Silverton. Johnson said Silverton service was already scheduled to end Sunday. Nearly 18 inches of ballast washed out near Trimble Lane. Speed Swing operated by Robert Manore. “It really scoured it all out underneath the track.” Next work north of the Tacoma power plant, including ties. Polar Express remains on schedule to begin November 20.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Highline Express page, read November 2, 2026. October 27 through November 1. Durango departure 9 a.m. Durango return 12:45 p.m. A three-and-a-half-hour trip through the Animas Valley to the Highline.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Scenic Round Trip Silverton page, read November 2, 2026. A 45-mile branch of the Denver & Rio Grande, in continuous operation since 1882. A listed steam departure at 9 a.m. runs May 2 through November 1, 2026.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Polar Express page, read November 2, 2026. November 20, 2026, through January 2, 2027.

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Durango & Silverton Repairs Track After Continued Flooding

The Animas and the ballast

The Highline Express

Cumbres & Toltec

Related reading on American-Rails.com

Sources