We have reservations to board the Durango to Silverton RR next month(part of our celebration of 40 years of wedded bliss). Any comments regarding historic railroads (must see’s or don’t bother) between Laramie, WY and Southwest Colorado would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your input.
If you’re going that far, I’d recommend including a visit to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR even if you don’t ride (it’s a great ride, too BTW). While the D&S offers a Shop Tour (worth it IMO), the C&TS allows you to stroll through the yards, especially good at the Chama end. Just like being a kid again, so long as you don’t climb on the equipment or enter buildings, you can poke around to your heart’s content. I believe they do ask you to register at the station now, but a very different and more laid back atmosphere than Durango.
The San Juan Co. Historical Society has a great little museum in Silverton you won’t want to miss.
A real biggie, do-not-miss is the Colorado RR Museum in Golden. Lots to see and this time of year they often have operating equipment.
BTW, when riding either the D&S or the C&TS, I highly recommend paying the extra fare and upgrading to Parlor Car service. The location on the rear of the train makes for great photos and usually access to the rear platform, as well as the attentive service of the crew staffing the car.
We’ve ridden both several times, very very nice! I agree with Mike go for the option of a closed Car. We didn’t have reservations on one trip and ended up riding in a open car (Gondola with a roof) and it snowed on us in early July at Silverton (1979).
Sweaters barely helped in the cold canyon breeze near the top, in July.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mel,
Good point on being prepared with the right layers for a range of weather when riding either train. Both operates at relatively high altitudes and weather can be very changeable.
I think even if you do have closed car reservations, you should still carry extra layers. The layover in Si;verton is two hours or so. You don’t want the weather keeping you inside or you’ll miss a lot.
The lunch stop at Osier on the C&TS doesn’t offer all the retail selection of Silverton, but it is worth strolling around outside if you’re a train buff. Last time I was up ther, I bumped into an acquantance, RR artist John Coker, who was the engineer of the opposing train[:D] And there are various structures to see, etc. So prepare to be outdoors.
Also, while it happens only very rarely, the train like any other transportation device, can break down. Unlike in an airplane or boat, it’s usually safe to just sit there until help arrives, but nice to have adequate clothing for the time of day when the shadows get longm just in case.
Hello all,
It’s not a rialroad but I would definitely check out the Colorado Model Railroad museum in Greely, Colorado.
My wife is not a fan of model railroads but she was impressed by this layout.
The Colorado Railroad Museum, in Golden, Colorado, is an outdoor exhibit of prototypical motive power and rolling stock.
There is a small HO scale display in the basement. During the summer they do have a G scale pike outdoors.
Unless you are drawn to static displays of prototypical equipment this might not be a “must see” attraction.
From Golden, heading west on I-70, the Georgetown Loop railroad is definitely worth the effort.
The railroad also offers a side tour of the Lebanon mine; which is only accessible by the train.
Being a mining and history buff along with a train enthusiast this was a great option. (Bring some cash to tip the mine tour guides.)
The Royal Gorge railroad is a great ride through the Royal Gorge canyon. This is definitely on my “Bucket List”!
A little further out of the way is the Leadville Colorado & Southern railroad in Leadville, Colorado.
I have not taken this line but it does offer one of the highest excursions in the lower 48 states.
There is a narow;2-foot gage, railroad in Cripple Creek, Colorado. We just rode this line and would not recommend it.
Enjoy your trip and have a great time on the rails.
Hope this helps.
Gen Statler is an old but remodeled nice hotel right next to the train station and a number of good restaurants. The Palmer is the same age, but not quite so nicely redone.
Mesa Verde is 60-90 minutes away Impressive cliff dwellings. There is a nice dude ranch in Mancos. Monument Valley is a bit further from Durango, that is another day beyond the time you might spend at Mesa Verde. The Navaho’s have an onsite motel
Never been to Chama but Durango is 6500’. Silverton 9300’ Chama 7800’ My wife and myself, to a lesser extent, are prone to altitude sickness. I was an avid skier and she turned positively blue in Vail and I got pulmonary edema in Snowbasin Ut. Not everybody gets altitude sickness at these altitudes. Being a little short of breathe is no big deal but the headache can be spectacular.
We planned on acclimatizing in Durango for a day before the train trip. However the road to Silverton is so spectacular, we ended up driving there on day 1. The road from Montrose to Durango is equally spectacular.
Her oxygen level dipped to the low 80’s, normal is 95+ and we were both taking meds for altitude sickness. Mine was 91%. The next day on the train she didn’t go lower than 93 or so and mine was normal.
We live at 14 feet above see level, but altitude sickness also has a genetic component. If you’ve never been skiing out west or at those kind of altitudes it might be worth talking to your doctor. If he is a flat lander too, he won’t be up to speed on altitude sickness. It is not something that just happens to mountain climbers. Drink plenty of water and no alcohol the first day.
If you are driving there, you will be acclimating on the way. If you are flying from sea level to Durango, that is not acclimating. Again, most people don’t have any problems at all.
There is also the Ridgway Railroad Muesum in Ridgway Colorado. They have Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #4 on display. Don’t let the alltitude scare you. There are many treatments for alltitude sickness. Staying hydrated will go a long way to avoiding problems. Keep in mind, Colorado is very dry with single digit humidity in a lot of places. Drink lots of water. If you are a “flat lander”, just limit your physical exertion. If you are into cars, you might check out the car muesum in Gateway, in the south west section of the state.
Keep in mind that Silverton is a tourist trap. You’ll have plenty of time to eat lunch in Silverton and lots of places to choose from, all with sky high prices. I got a hot dog and a Coke and with tip set me back over $10. My advice, pack a lunch. Walking around Silverton is quite interesting and you don’t have to spend a dime there.
Hi,
All of the above advice is well founded. I’ve ridden the D&S and the C&T twice each, and all but one of the others mentioned. “WOW” is my view on both of them. The D&S is “fancy” as compared to the C&T, and the scenery is more picturesque and exciting. The C&T is more period railroad (very real feeling of stepping back in time) and the scenery is of the “wild open spaces”.
Two things of note… the C&T offers lunch at the midway point. We had turkey and dressing both times, and it was absolutely outstanding!
For the D&S, when you finish and return to Durango, you have the option of driving north (?) to drive on the “million dollar highway”. I did it once, and I paid really close attention to the road every inch of the way. It was an experience for sure!
Ok, have to add…take the cog RR up Pikes Peak. If you go in the summer, it is often snowy at the top. Its almost like an amusement park ride thru the seasons.
Good advice there from Henry. If you do get a bit of altitude sickness, it often passes after the first day or two. Lots of fluids helps.
It’s also something that is very individual. The only time I suffered really was my first extended 4WD trip, although I’d been into the mountains before out West when I was a kid on family vacations. However, spending lots of time near or above the tree line in crossing various passes on 4x4 trails for the first time (between 11,000’ and 13,000’) had me feeling puny the first couple of days. After that, no problems, although there might be several years in between trips. It’s been a decade now since I last visited (grad school has a way of interrupting life), so who knows, but I should be OK.
The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is about a 2 hour drive from Durango. Definitely worth visiting.
I live in Farmington NM just south of Durango. I would concur with many of the comments. If you are in the region, the C&TS at Chama NM is well worth the visit even if you just walk around the Chama yard. The ride is even better.
While at the Durango depot, give yourself some time to go through the roundhouse museum. Real cool stuff there. While in Durango, I like to walk along the river and hang out at Rotary Park (E 2nd Ave and E 15 St). Fun to watch the trains cross the Animas River there over a nice bridge.
I would add that while you’re in Silverton, spread some money around! Support the economy! Buy some food and a souvenier! Ha
Anyway, if you are at all into trains, give yourself some time to walk around down to the Silverton depot and the Silverton Northern shop and display right nearby. I dont think the 315 is there this summer. I beleive it is in Chama right now. There might be people of the Durango Railroad Historical Society working on the oil shed. There are several nice restored cars on display. A bunk car was recently completed and I think they are working on a couple refers which are rare I understand. If you have more time in Silverton, the Mayflower Mill tour is super cool. You have to drive there though, its outside of town. Here’s some teaser photos. Enjoy your trip!
Ore Tramway to Mayflower Mill by Eric Miller, on Flickr
Mayflower Ball Mill by Eric Miller, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LGcagH][img]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8115/2933453505
Awesome pics, Eric![tup][Y]
Thanks kindly Mike.
Hello all,
Another good suggestion!
Hope this helps.
Not a historic railroad, but there is the Colorado Railroad Museum in Greely. It is a nicely done display model railraod. Greely is a bit over an hour from Denver.
Colorado Railroad Museum = Golden
Colorado Model Railroad Museum = Greeley
The names are very close and easy to confuse, but it’s a long drive if you were expecting one and not the other. However, both are well worth the visit.