One of my favorite travel memories is riding the Durango & Silverton steam-powered railroad through the San Juan National Forest in Colorado. The 45-mile railroad connects the historic towns of Durango and Silverton. Along the way, the train travels along the Animas River and providers breathtakingly panoramic views of the Colorado Rockies' wilderness, deep canyons, towering cliffs, and mountain passes.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was built by the Denver and Rio Grande in 1882 to transport silver and gold from the mining town of Silverton to Durango. It was constructed through one of the country's most rugged mountains and was built mostly by hand. It is considered an engineering marvel and the American Society of Civil Engineers designated it a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968. It has also been in continuous operation since 1882 making it one of the few remaining continuously used railroads in the United States.
Today, the Durango & Silverton remains a vital part of Colorado's history and it is a major tourist attraction. It is truly an unforgettable scenic journey on a historic steam train, that travels through the Colorado Rockies and provides breathtaking views of the wilderness and the Animas Rivers, and ends in the historic mining town of Silverton.
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| Durango & Silverton Train Station |
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| Durango, Colorado |
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| Durango & Silverton Steam Engine and Passenger Cars |
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| Animas River |
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| Scenic Views through San Juan Mountains |
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| Water Tanks |
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| Train stop to add more water for the steam engine. |
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| Old Mine |
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| Silverton, Colorado |
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| Green Street in Silverton, Colorado |
