by Jo Jones

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

If you are visiting Southwest Colorado stop in Durango and ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. You need to arrive early and be prepared to spend the day. The train runs between Durango, a historic railroad town, and Silverton, an old mining town. You start in Durango at around 7000 feet and 45 miles later you arrive in Silverton having climbed to 11,000 feet. In the summer there are three trips a day. The first trip starts at 8:15 and it is 3 hours before you arrive in Silverton. You have several hours to eat and shop in Silverton before you get back on the train for the return trip to Durango. You arrive back in Durango after 5:00 p.m.

The train is pulled by a vintage steam engine; you even have to stop along the way to take on water. When you buy your ticket you have a choice of several cars. There is the vintage coach car, several open air cars, and several specialty coach cars with expanded room. Be warned, the vintage coach car has very small seats. If you want the best view, buy your ticket for one of the open air cars. The specialty cars require advance reservations, and it is a good idea to get your ticket for any of the cars early. You can go to www.durangosilvertonrailroad.com/schedule to buy tickets in advance. Train trips are very popular and can sell out.

The route the train follows was first opened in 1882 and has been in continuous operation for 125 years. Built to haul gold and silver ore out of the San Juan Mountains people soon realized that there was spectacular scenery along this route. The route follows the Animas Valley and the Animas River. Steep grades and switchbacks are a hallmark of the trip. Take your camera. You can photograph the front of the train as it goes around a steep curve, photograph kayakers and rafters on the No Name Rapids' of the Animas River, photograph the rainbow created when the engineer opens the "Blowdown" valve crossing the High Bridge, photograph spectacular scenery, and photograph the various wildlife that lives along the route. On the trip up watch the scenery on one side of the car and on the ride down watch the scenery on the other side of the car. There is never a bad view on this trip.

If you want to know more about the area you are passing through you can purchase an official guide book. Anything significant is listed by mile marker. In addition there is a history of the railroad, of Durango, and of Silverton. The train has some distinct whistles and the book lists what each whistle means. With or without the book, this is a great train ride through a beautiful part of the United States.

Learn more about this author, Jo Jones.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.