Tag Archives: narrow-gauge railway

Durango to Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railway: Part 2

We didn’t know if there would be room on the train for Rick’s guitar, so we’d left it at the hotel. Note to selves: narrow-gauge railway trips are a GREAT place to sing “Freight Train Boogie” and “Riding on the City of New Orleans.”

In Silverton, we wanted to buy a cheap one for Rick to play on the way back. Note to selves: you can’t buy a guitar in Silverton.

Silverton was pretty much about lunch, jewelry and collectibles…

… and imagining what it would be like to live in the same place, but different time…

… or, the same time, but different space.

In some cases, maintaining the illusion requires a LOT of costly upkeep and artistry. (Just ask any of my 50-something friends: we all agree.)

2.5 hours was just about the right interval between residencies on the back platform.

The view heading back was just as spectacular as it had been on the way out, but things had shifted.

Aside from the fabulous light…

… we started seeing more people. And yes, kids still do put pennies on railway ties in the path of oncoming trains.

The train seemed to stop to take on water in more photo-friendly spots…

… and we weren’t the only ones apparently willing to slow things down to take it all in.

The late afternoon sun cut through rock and forest to spotlight objects of its own choosing…

… creating backdrops for the Harry-Potteresque dreams that would follow later that night.

We waved good-bye to those in shadow…

… and in the full late afternoon sunlight, realized anew the value of a wave versus an actual hand-shake.

Wish we’d seen him earlier. We’d have offered to buy his banjo.

It all melted into a lovely, sleepy Colorado summer evening…

… with waves goodnight from the landlubbers (you can always tell landlubbers by their matching gardening footwear) …

… and from those at sea…

… and from a kid with an Inner Adult just waiting for his turn to be able to afford the price of a ticket on a narrow-gauge railway line.

‘Cause, man… if you had the money, who wouldn’t spend some on that?

* We’ve posted more photos of our fellow passengers, scenery, etc. in a Facebook album. Just copy and paste this url into your browser:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10702&id=100000861207094&l=bff1206839. Don’t think it will make you sign in/join/whatever, but let us know if it does, okay? Also, for those with whom we shared the day, let us know (rickandkathyjamison@gmail.com) if you’d like the full resolution versions of any photos in particular: happy to send along.

Durango to Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railway: Part 1

The line from Durango to Silverton, CO, has been in use since 1881, and there are apparently still enough Inner Children around the country clambering for a ride that we got the last two “Presidential class” seats available on the 9:45 departure.

In truth, your Inner Kiddo doesn’t really care which car you ride, although the older you get, the more attractive comfy seats and a once-in-a-lifetime view become.

We STRONGLY recommend procuring a Presidential class ticket.

First, you stand a chance of riding on the “Nomad,” the oldest private railroad coach still in service in the United States.

Originally named “The Fairplay,” the car has hosted Presidents William H Taft, Ulysses S Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and now, rickandkathy. (Somehow, we doubt this last important factoid will end up in the Wikipedia entry on the subject, but whatever….)

But even without the historical interest and beautifully appointed interior, it’s the last car on the train, which means the little open-air platform on the back affords access to jaw-dropping vistas not available to the other cars. This alone is worth the price of admission.

Plus, if you’re really lucky…

… you’ll land Ellie as your personal chaperon/tour guide/safety officer and bartender. Ellie is fabulous, and everything you’d want in an ex-Alaskan field geologist to be. This is important, because en route to Silverton, there are a LOT of rocks that need ‘splainin.

For our money, though, the history and geology took a definite back seat to the tear-inspiring beauty…

… and touristy moments we enjoyed.

We got to meet pleasant, interesting people* (hi Erica and John!)…

… while we took turns on the back platform, picking our jaws up off the brass railing.

Hangin’ on was roughly 50% of the fun…

… while listening to the water of the Animas River rush by, the clackity-clackity of the rails under your feet, and the foooph-foooph of the steam whistle already around the next bend made up the other half.

Our eyeballs got their own 100% all to themselves.

I’m embarrassed to mention I had brought along books and a deck of playing cards, in case we got bored. In fairness, a ten-hour day with seven of those on a train going 10-15 miles an hour seemed like it had the potential to get a bit long.

Yeah… right.

We were in Silverton before I was done jumping from one side of the train to the other, trying to decide which view at any given moment was the most beautiful. Good thing we had the 2.5 hour lay-over to eat lunch and calm down: the ride back was even more incredible.

And that’s why we’ll leave that for Part 2.