Durango & Silverton Railroad

We got up very early in Moab this morning and drove 2.5 hours to Durango Colorado. We then boarded the Durango & Silverton narrow gauge Railroad. It is a 3.5 hour train ride from Durango to Silverton since the train only goes between 5 and 20 miles per hour. Our car was built in the late 1800's and is still covered with lacquered wood, antique lights, wallpaper and an open railing at the back since we were the last VIP passenger car.
It is a real steam train with 9 passenger cars. The route winds through high mountain peaks following the valley and river that carved it. There were sheer rock walls, tracks along sheer rock cliffs, beautiful views of pine covered hills and perfect blue skies.
The train stopped twice along the way for more steam engine water and once to let off some hikers and campers in the mountains.
Once we arrived in the small town of Silverton we did some walking, shopping and sightseeing. There are just a couple of main streets in the small resort town. We took a tour of the original jail where they kept 6 prisoners in each cell, so times were very different back then. Next was a tour of a mining museum which covered the evolution of mining methods and technology used over the decades past. The railroad we took was built to service the mining in the surrounding area back in the mining days.
Then back to our hotel, The Grand Imperial Hotel for just one night before our adventures tomorrow...Read more