While the Durango and Silverton trains still closely resemble
the 'Old West' era engines that were once a fixture on this line,
today the railroad is used solely as a tourist attraction, carrying
visitors along the same spectacularly scenic route once used by the
settlers, miners and cowboys of Colorado. Passengers are carried 45
miles from Durango, a small city in the south west of the state,
close to the New Mexico border, to the historic mining town of
Silverton, on a slow paced journey through the Animas Canyon. Over
3.5 hours it follows the twists and turns of the Animas River, and
passengers are treated to stunning mountain views as the train
journeys through valleys, climbing first to Hermosa then Rockwood,
all the while working hard to traverse the winding, mountainous
terrain. The train then travels through Needleton and Elk Park,
both popular hiking destinations, where it passes the famous
Colorado Trail before crossing the Animas River one final time and
steaming into historic Silverton. The journey varies slightly in
the off-season, with a 'Cascade Canyon Excursion' taking visitors
to the beautiful, snow covered Cascade Canyon Wye, a real life
winter wonderland.
The vintage closed passenger cars offer restroom facilities and
heating in the colder months, as well as oversized windows which
are perfect for viewing the dramatic scenery of the Colorado
wilderness. The train also boasts open gondola cars which feature
bench-style seating, and provide passengers with unobstructed
panoramic views of the stunning San Juan mountains, breathtaking
canyons and the emerald Animas River.
The Durango and Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad also operates
two rail museums, the D&SNG Museum in Durango, and the
Silverton Freight Yard Museum in Silverton. Both provide
informative exhibitions and feature historic locomotives and
railway equipment used on the Durango and Silverton line, well
worth a visit if free time allows.
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