Greetings,
I said would get around to this eventually, so here it is. On my trip out west with my Dad we also rode the Durango & Silverton. We did the round trip from Durango. With Durango being a much larger town than Chama, NM accomodations and restaurants were not a problem. Neither was the weather.
We rode the train on Sunday September 30, 2007 and the weather was perfect, albeit a bit nippy in the morning. The temp when we got to the depot was 31, and we were riding in the open car, no windows. But we survived. We picked up the tickets at the depot and then we were on our way.
Unlike the C&T you are not allowed to wander around the yard and engine facilities. They do offer a roundhouse tour at 10am for an extra cost and while both trains are gone. Doesn’t make alot of sense. We were riding the first train out.
The ride was beautiful, it was sunny and it did get warmer as we got closer to Silverton. Being the first train we stopped for all of the flag stops were campers and the like can be picked up by the train enroute to Silverton.
When we arrived in Silverton we ate the old whorehouse (now the Shady Lady). Very good open face roast beef sandwich. Walked around a bit and then headed back to Durango. All in all a great trip.
Now here are some photos.
Here is station at Durango, CO
The open gondola we would be riding in. All seats on the train are reserved, but several people though the open car was open to all, but it wasn’t bad. A bit chilly in the morning.
Some beautiful scenes not to far out of Durango
