Eastbound for Durango. A 1930s-era D&RGW Passenger Train eases her way through a rather snug rock cut as she runs the last few tenths of a mile toward Rockwood Station. Although this train is pretty clearly headed compass west, into a rapidly sinking sun, she's actually considered to be an eastbound train. The mileposts on the old Silverton branch run from mile 451.5 in Durango to mile 496.9 at the end of the line in Silverton. Those distances were originally measured in terms of a westbound trip on the railroad starting in Denver. The D&RGW tracks from Denver to Durango have long since been removed, but to this day, trains running on the Silverton Branch are still considered to be westbound as they head toward Silverton and eastbound as they come home....this despite the fact that the line generally runs compass north and south. Got all of that? LOL!
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
