Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge
photographers Steam Charter

Our charter photo mixed train will depart at 7:30am and run up to the Animas River High Bridge just north of the High Line for our first set of photo run-bys. Our special train consist will be 4 to 5 freight cars, one passenger coach, one concession car and a caboose. The concession car will have sandwiches, chips, snacks and drinks available to purchase. We will be running 90 minutes ahead of the regular scheduled Silverton train. We will stage several photo run-bys at the High Bridge and the curve on the High Line before backing up to get in the clear at the Rockwood siding for the northbound regular train. We will then come back out on the mainline and head north into the rugged Cascade Canyon following the Animas River in the San Juan Mountains. We will continue to stage photo run-bys in the canyon as we progress north towards Silverton. Our train will cross the Animas River five times before reaching Silverton with mountain peaks reaching 14,000 feet all around us. In the afternoon we will again take to the siding deep in the Cascade Canyon to meet the southbound Silverton train. We finally reach the wild west mining town of Silverton around 6:00pm. There are several hotels and motels in Silverton that are a short walk from where we will unload our train.

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the 7 photos below were taken of the regular silverton train in october. These photos give you a good sample of the spectacular scenery

This morning we will reboard our waiting train at 8:00am which will be sitting in the middle of the street near downtown Silverton and still facing north. We will first back down to the classic old Silverton Station which is less than a ½ mile away. Everyone will unload in front of the station for a couple of photo run-bys. Then we all board our train and back up for a couple of miles to the Animas River Bridge for another photo run-by of our train on this bridge while facing northbound. After this photo run-by our train will continue for a mile to the Silverton Wye Track so that our train can turn around and face southbound. Then another photo run-by will be made on the same bridge but now our train is facing south. After this run-by we load up and continue southbound into the rugged Cascade Canyon for the next series of run-bys. Deep in the Cascade Canyon we will again go into the siding to meet the northbound regular Silverton train. As we make our way southbound along the Animas River we will stage some more run-bys including on the High Bridge over the Animas River. Finally we will stage a couple run-bys on the High Line with the river hundreds of feet below. At the Rockwood Station we again go into the siding to allow the Silverton train to run around us. We will then stage one more photo run-by near Rockwood before continuing on into Durango arriving around 6:30pm.

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A Special Photographers Mixed Train On The Durang & Silverton railroad
Near The Rockwood Station.
Photo By Don Atkinson

Photo Run-By On The Durango And Silverton.
Photo By Don Atkinson

Another Spectacular Photo Run-By On The Durango And Silverton
Deep In The Cascade Canyon.
Photo By Don Atkinson

Both of these days are free for you to railfan trackside on the Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec Railroads. If you like you could spend October 24 trackside on the Durango & Silverton and October 25 trackside on the Cumbres & Toltec. Both railroads will be running trains on both dates.

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Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec charter train departs Chama, New Mexico doubleheaded with two 2-8-2 K-36 steam locomotives and about 20 freight cars, several converted box cars with seasts for passengers and a caboose. Once the train climbs the steep 4% grade to Cumbres Pass at 10,015 feet the helper locomotive will be cut off and run lite to Antonito ahead of the train. As the Friends charter train continues towards Antonito and through the rugged Toltec Gorge plenty of photo run-bys will be made. Arrival in Antonito is scheduled just prior to sunset. Upon arrival in Antonito passengers will load up on a couple Cumbres & Toltec buses which will bring everyone back to Chama for lodging.

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Cumbres & Toltec Photo Run-By Near Los Pinos
Photo By Don Atkinson

Water Stop And Photo Run-By At The Los Pinos Water Tank
On The Cumbres And Toltec Railroad.
Photo Don Atkinson

Passengers will re-load in a couple of the railroad's buses and return by highway to Antonito, Colorado where they will board the Friends waiting train for the return journey to Chama, New Mexico. This morning this charter train will have one 2-8-2 K-36 on the head end and the 2nd K-36 cut into the middle of the train. This is the way the Rio Grande used to run long and heavy freight trains over Cumbres Pass. Plenty of photo run-bys will be made between Antonito and Cumbres Pass. When the train arrives at the Cumbres Pass Station the mid-train helper will be set out and then run as a light engine down the San Juan Range to Chama. The charter freight train will then follow down the mountain to Chama. And so ends a spectacular 6 days of narrow gauge steam operations on both railroads.

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Another Spectacular Photo Run-By On The Cumbres & Toltec Near Cumbres Pass.
Photo By Don Atkinson

The 15 photos below were taken of the regular cumbres & toltec train and other charters. These photos give you a good sample of the spectacular scenery between cumbres and antonito.