I was born in 1988, more than 20 years after the last steam-powered narrow gauge revenue freight plied the rails of the D&RGW. I was a few years late to capture the golden age of steam in Colorado. However, my maternal grandparents were both born and raised in Silverton, which meant many a summer vacation were spent in the southwest corner of Colorado. I grew up next to the Durango and Silverton, and through my time on vacation and later outdoor pursuits, I was able to watch it operate, persevere and adapt. This post is a collection of memories and photos of the line and equipment spanning from the early 2000s to today. I encourage other to share their photos and memories from the line here as well, whether they be from the Rio Grande days or the D&S era.
A departing train blows off steam just south of the Silverton depot.
When I was in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, my parents hatched a scheme with my great uncle to let me stay with his family in Silverton for two to four weeks each summer. Basically, free summer camp. Back in those days (late 1990s and 2000s), 12th Street (the passenger dropoff point for the train) was lined with kids peddling fine mineral specimens from the San Juans - the rock sellers. Those who rode the train during this time likely remember them. My first summer, i joined their ranks, selling ore from various abandoned mines dotting the mountains around town. Everyday, I would stop by our family friend’s shop (Fetch’s, if you are ever in town) and pick up a Coke box full of galena, pyrite with maybe a few flecks of maybe silver and gold. Fetch used to work at the Sunnyside Mine before opening his own gift shop on Greene and had an endless supply of samples to lend to a entrepreneurial kid.
I would join the ranks of others on 12th and wait for the whistle of the first train…back in those days 3 to 4 trains per day was typical. While the main goal was earning some money for candy and funnel cakes, I was also stoked to see the steam locomotives glide to a stop and then back down to the wye to turn. A scheme we rock sellers had was to ask the engineers and firemen for a couple chunks of coal, which we would them break up to smaller pieces and sell for a couple bucks each. Genuine coal from the railway, what tourist could resist? The charity of those passengers who bought rocks from all of us never ceased to amaze me. After the trains left, we would pack up our wears I would spend the rest of the day cruising town on a used bike, riding old mining roads as far as those gears would take me.
A train arriving on 12th Street.
Back then the D&S had C&S style “beartrap” spark arrestors. I am sure there are a few folks reading this that do not remeber that time fondly. To a 9 year old, it didn’t mean a thing. Seeing those steamers was captivating. One summer, my Great Uncle booked the parlor car Alamosa for all us to ride back Durango. The railway didn’t have the large first class service they offer now and the Alamosa was fairly spartan. The best part was the observation platform, which I remember standing on for the duration of the 3.5 hour trip down the canyon to Durango.
Typical First Class cars back in the early 2000s. The rear car may be the Alamosa.
In the early 2000s, the D&S had started a small collection of old equipment down at the Silverton depot, the centerpiece was the 493. In those days she was just silent hisk of an engine…a jungle gym for the kids who remained in town after the trains had left for the day. While many of you may recall the many hollywood films featuring the Silverton Branch, there have also been a few ski movies featuring the atea and the railway. There is a great sequence featuring freestyle skiers doing aerial routines over the 493 in 2011’s Attack of La Nina. The irony is that the engine is now a workhorse again, while many of those skiers have now since retired.
493 sits silently in the Silverton yard.
More memories in future posts…
