I’m gonna be taking a vacation to the South West Colorado area this summer. I’ve heard of the Dorango and Silverton, but what else is around there? Any one know of anything better? PS ignore the signature, it was written a long time ago I can’t find where to edit it out (been a long time since I have been active here)
As one who’d ridden it, let me tell you the Durango and Silverton is NOT to be missed, especially if you’re going to be in the area. As a matter of fact, I would allow two days for it, one for the ride and one for the museum. The ride is an all-day affair, you leave before the museum opens and by the time you get back it’ll be closed. And as a tip from me, save your money and pay the extra fare for the parlor car, it’s not as crowded, it’s not full of uncontrollable kids and their clueless parents, and there’s free “breakfast” mimosas at the start of the trip. After the mimosas you have to pay for the rest of the booze, but so what? A nice full bar is on hand. And you won’t miss a thing being on the back of the train, trust me. And it’s true, people in the “bar car” ALWAYS wave back to the people at trackside. Wonder why?
The Cumbres and Toltec is, I think, not too far away, but I haven’t been there so can’t comment on it. If you find yourself in the Cripple Creek area there’s a 24" gauge tourist line that runs along the old roadbed of the former Colorado Midland Railroad. A short ride, but lots of fun. Don’t miss the Cripple Creek Museum in the old Midland Terminal depot. Downside, Cripple Creek is a good four hour drive from Durango.
Enjoy the D&S, it’s a real time machine!
Ok, so they don’t allow minors in that car? I’m 16… I think the way my dad was talking the way it would work time wise is we would go 1 way on the train and take the bus the other because of time constraints.
The question is how you get into SW Colorado. Driving or flying? Coming into Durango how?
(1) Durango & Silverton (steam)
(2) Cumbres & Toltec (Steam)/ Chama, NM end…Antonito is less interesting
(3) Rio Grande & San Luis Valley RR (Alamosa)
(4)Rio Grande Historical (Creede)…interestesting drive into Creede
(5) Canon City & Royal Gorge (Canon City/ may be out of your way)
With your time constraints, as they say, the Durango & Silverton should not be missed. They consistently receive the most votes for spectacular scenery. I first rode the D&S at your age (over 40 years ago) and if you like the ride, you will probably eventually come back to ride all the other lines.
As a long time Colorado resident railfan the Durango & Silverton is definately one of the best. But, that along with the other links available along the former DRGW line to Silverton, you shouldn’t miss the Cumbres & Toltec. It’s the eastern end of the NG that ran from Alamosa to Silverton. And, now, if you plan it right and have the time and resources, you can work it to ride a little over 150 miles of old time steam by connecting with the San Luis & Rio Grande to Alamosa, then to Antonito (to connect with the Cumbres & Toltec), then drive to Durango for that leg. Doing this will give you one of the most unique combinations of live steam railroading alive today.
I guess we will probably end up doing the Durango and Silverton. Me and my parents (and my brother) went on the royal gorge train a few years ago. We will be driving in from Missouri across southern Kansas (BORING!) and southern Colorado if that makes a difference.
To “Been Nothing Since Frisco”: Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend when I mentioned uncontrollable kids. I assume at 16 you’re WAY beyond that stage! And no, I don’t believe minors are prohibited from the parlor car, the higher cost tends to keep familys out and couples in. Besides, hey, you’re a railfan and I assume a steam freak as well, I’d share a car with you anytime!
I wasn’t offended buy the uncontrollable kids thing. You know how mad it makes me that when I’m in walmart and a kid throws them self on the ground and throws a tantrum and the parents don’t do anything?
By all means ride the Durango & Silverton. There are very few if any places where you can photograph it. Also plan to visit Mesa Verde National Park, 36 miles west of Durango. My wife and I visited Durango last year. We flew into Denver, picked up a rental car, and we stayed overnight in Colorado Springs;we drove from Colorado Springs to Durango on the next day. We drove to Durango via Walsenburg and Alamosa over US 160 and the Wolf Creek Pass.
If you haven’t done it already you should take the Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad from Canon City through the Royal Gorge. The trip is 12 miles, it takes 2 hours, and it goes through the Royal Gorge to Parkdale, CO; it stops at the Hanging Bridge on the return trip. You can drive to the Royal Gorge Park from Canon City where you can cross the Royal Gorge on a suspension bridge. You can drive across the bridge or you can walk across it, but I suggest walking across the bridge. You can look down into the Royal Gorge, and you can get a good photo of the train running through it.
By the way we returned to Denver via Ridgway and Canon City on US 550 from Durango to Montrose and US 50 from Montrose to Canon City. We stopped to eat lunch at a railroad museum in Ridgway. The museum has a Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose and some Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande Southern narow gage rolling stock on display; they told me the Galloping Goose is operable.
All that stuff with the royal gorge I’ve done and I’ve been to that museum but we wont be getting any were near Denver, or Colorado Springs, it’s out of the way. The royal gorge trip was fun though, especially in the dome car 
A question I forgot to ask, is the trip on the Durango and Silverton better going up or down? Or does it make a difference?
Durango and Silverton better going up or down? In my opinion is really doesn’t make a difference. Depending on how much time you have you may want to check how long the return trip is by bus. I suspect the bus ride back may be quicker than the train ride up, but I wouldn’t know, the wife and I rode the train both ways.
Better going up then down.
Mostly because of the time of day. On the way back it’s well into the afternoon/evening. Also the grade is tougher going up, so the loco makes a lot more noise. So I say it is better going up.
Take the bus back. It’s the best way to save time if you need it.