Aerial Tour of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
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Once part of the once extensive 3-foot narrow-gauge network of the Denver & Rio Grande Western; the 45-mile Silverton Branch is now operated as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The D&SNG RR operates original coal-fired, steam powered, 3-foot narrow gauge locomotives.
For more information on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad:
Official Website of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR
Also, check out our Aerial Tour of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
THE TOUR:
Unfortunately, these high altitude black and white images do not do justice to the scenic beauty of the San Juan Mountains along this remarkable railroad. But they do provide a good study of of the entire route. Below are links to just some of the highlights.
Durango - Station and roundhouse. The Roundhouse burned in 1989, damaging six locomotives. A year later, a new roundhouse and machine shop wre dedicated. All of the locomotives were also repaired.
Animas River - 253-foot steel plate girder bridge
Hermosa - Siding and water tank. 64-foot wood Howe pony-truss bridge over Hermosa Creek to the south.
Rockwood - Wye and siding. 350-foot Rockwood Cut is is east of the wye.
High Bridge - 130-foot wroght-iron deck-truss built erected in 1894 and strengthened in 1981.
Tacoma - Flag stop. The Tacoma Power Plant is across the river. A train can be seen to the north.
Tall Timber Resort
- Several movies have used this location, including "Night Passage", "Ticket to Tomahawk", "Around the World in 80 Days" and
"Denver & Rio Grande" (1951), which featured an intentional head on collision between D & RGW engines #319 and #345.
Cascade Canyon Wye - Built in 1981, the wye is used to turn the Cascade Canyon Winter Trains.
Animas River crossing - North span in wrought-iron, built in 1887 and installed in 1911. The south steel span was built in 1972
TRAIN! - Between MP 480 and 481. Look carefully on the left side of the image. You can see the locomotive's smoke and passenger cars of a Silverton-bound train.
Needleton Snowslide - Pathway for large snowslides (avalanches) - one of many along the route.
Needleton Tank and it's shadow can be seen near the bottom of this image.
Noname Snowlide (left) and Noname Rapids on the Animas River
Animas River Crossing - Two bridges can be seen - the one on the left is a 4 span timber truss that was abandoned in 1964. On the right is a two-span 222-foot steel deck plate girder bridge that is currently used.
Elk Park - Flagstop with siding and wye
Animas River Crossing - This deck timber bridge is the last Animas River crossing before Silverton
Mineral Creek and Silverton Wye - A train can be seen on the on the wye.
Silverton - End of the line. Two trains can be spotted near the depot.
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Want more Colorado Narrow Gauge? May we suggest these excellent books from Amazon.com?
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© 1997-2008 by Railway Station Productions LLC, All Rights Reserved.
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Cinders & Smoke : A Mile by Mile Guide for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by Doris B. Osterwald
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge: A Quick History by Duane A. Smith
American Narrow Gauge Railroads by George W. Hilton