Durango and Silverton Narrow Gage Railroad 

  

click photo to enlarge		 This historic line has been in operation for over 125 years. We are not really train buffs or anything like that but had been told about the great scenery and how much fun this train ride was. Well, it lived up to everything we had been told. We have had some experience with steam train rides before in New York state and West Virginia but this one was different it was an all day experience.

click photo to enlarge		 Some friends had given us a video of the train ride to watch before we went. The video had a lot of information about the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gage Railroad but it didn't really showcase the scenery.

click photo to enlarge		 The train starts in the town of Durango at an elevation of 6700 feet and travels 35 miles to the town of Silverton at 9100 feet. The mountain scenery was great. They had snow  in Silverton a few days before we took our trip but most of it was gone by the time we got there.

click photo to enlarge		 Here the train is in Silverton. You have about 2 hours in Silverton to get a bite to eat and browse the town. We were on one of the last trains of the season that would go all the way to Silverton. In the winter they only go about half way. Many of the shops had already closed for the season.

click photo to enlarge 		This area of the trip is called the high line. The train slows to a crawl through this area because of the severe drop off on the side. Being a Narrow Gage the train does a bit more rocking then wider trains and I guess they don't want it to rock off. Good thing...