We love the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.  It’s what brought us to Durango Colorado for the first time over 20 years ago.  It is still an icon of Southwest Colorado in spite of the devastating 2018 fire no doubt started by one of their coal burning steam locomotives.  Recently the Federal Government filed suit against the railroad for starting the fire.  No one doubts they started it and will have to settle.  In the meantime people in the community continue to honk and wave to the train and know its bringing prosperity to the town.  The D and S is making changes to reduce the chance of another fire including converting a locomotive to burn oil and running diesels on occasion when fire danger is high.  They also have a greater fire fighting capability on the speeders following the train to catch small fires.  For years the train has more than offset their carbon footprint with tree plantings and other activities.  No one wants the train to go away.

Meanwhile… ridership is up this year.  Colorado  had  a tremendous  amount  of snow  this  past  winter  and  we  have  never  seen  so  many  waterfalls.  And  avalanches!  The  first  train  to  Silverton  in  April  found  60  (thats  right,  sixty)  feet  of  snow  covering  the  tracks  at  one  point.  The  ride  is  still  spectacular.

Site of avalanche that left 60 feet of snow over track

We hope the D and S survives this latest disaster.  Its been running since 1880 and we hope it continues far into the future.