The last coal-fired train departed Durango in March and soon after, K-36 class 481 was separated from its tender and placed on display in the DSNG museum pending an oil conversion. What was not fo... (more)

Final Curtain

After 143 years of near continuous use of coal-burning power on the Silverton Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western, on the 23rd of March 2024. The final r... (more)

Twilight of The Coal Burner

After 143 years of near continuous use of coal-burning power on the Silverton Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western, fireman John Hillier thro... (more)

Twilight of The Coal Burner

After 143 years of near continuous use of coal-burning power on the Silverton Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western, the last coal burner pose... (more)

The last coal burner, #481, pushes north of Cascade Canyon across Tefft Bridge on a D&S winter photography excursion.

"Head 'em up, move 'em back!"

Fireman/Engineer for the trip, Jon Walden, sits in the fireman's window of Durango and Silverton 481 on her final photographer's train a... (more)

There Goes The Last DJ...

The last hurrah for coal burning on the Durango and Silverton as K-36, #481 takes charge of the 2024 Winter Photographer's Train for what will be the ... (more)

After a full day of photo opps in the beautiful Animas Canyon, 481 offers up a gorgeous rainbow blowdown as a grand finale for the Durango & Silverton's winter photo special (481's last as a coal ... (more)

The morning after a heavy snow storm coated the San Juans in a fresh coat of white, Durango & Silverton coal burner #481 pushes for Cascade Canyon with a sold-out train full of dazzled passengers.

How high? 238 feet to be exact. That's how high above the Animas River train 261 finds itself with the last coal burner, 481, taking point.

Locomotives galore gather around the turntable of the Durango roundhouse. The last coal burner, 481, simmers outside next to a 70s deco 476. 482 and 480 flank both sides of the frame as they under... (more)

As the stars rise in the newfound darkness of yet another chilly night, the roundhouse crew of the Durango & Silverton create some warmth as they drop the ashes of the last coal-burning steam loco... (more)

Durango bound on the narrow gauge at Cascade Canyon Colorado.

"The Fireman"