Running the Rio de las Animas Perdidas. From Rockwood, Colorado on north, the old Denver & Rio Grande Western Silverton Line follows the Rio de las Animas Perdidas, or River of Lost Souls. At the bottom of a steep canyon in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado, the terrain isn't at all suitable for a railroad until one gets within about 20 feet of the river level. Needless to say, when rainstorms and thundershowers get heavy in the San Juans, those mountains are like giant funnels and where do you think all that water ends up? In this scene, DRGW K-28 #473 hauls our Silverton Mixed north along the turquoise waters of the Animas at Tefft, near MP 478 and the precautions the railroad has taken to reinforce the railroad grade are obvious. Still, nearly every year, without fail, there are a few days when this line gets shut down and the railroad crews have to scramble into the wilderness with backhoes and other heavy equipment, to clear the slides, fill in washouts and rebuild the track.....yet again.
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.
