Durango & Silverton RR my vacation PICS

[McNulty]

Great pix, BUT where is the kilt? My wife and I head down that way before the snow flies at least once a year.
Nulty

[Dr Mac]

Wow, those pics take me back... spent a wonderful summer years ago in Colorado, and the last part going through the Durango/Silverton area. Thanks for bringing it back!

[Riverkilt]

My olde stomping grounds too. The secret is to hit the hot springs after the trip and soak off the grime.

Hope you got a chance to romp deeper into the San Juans too.

Ron

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Great pics. We took the kids on the D&RG a couple of times but it's been 15 years. Great to see the old engines are still puffing.

Hope you got a recording of C. W. McCall's 'Silverton Train' in Silverton or Ouray.

[GMan]

Love that area. I do have friends who own a coffee shop in Silverton

[Jaggy thistle]

Great photos doesent get much better than a kilt and steam train!

[cessna152towser]

These photos really have the wow factor.
I am just so jealous, I'd love to ride that line.
Yet another reason why I just have to visit the USA.

[Barb T]

Wow - that brings back some memories. Years ago, when I was doing the field mapping for my PhD in geology, we'd fill up our backpacks with 10 days worth of supplies, get on the train in Silverton, and ride it 7 miles down the Animas Canyon to Elk Park, where the engineer would stop the train and let us off in the middle of nowhere to pack in 10 miles and up 4000 feet into the Weminuche Wilderness. We'd pitch our tents in the high valleys above 11,500 feet and map for a week, collecting data and samples, and eating our food and filling our packs with rocks. Our packs were always heavier on the way out than on the way in. And we'd go for days without seeing a soul. When we were done, we'd pack back down to the Animas at Elk Park, flag the train down, the train would stop and pick us and our packs up, and we'd ride back in to Silverton. In 1976, when it was still owned by the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR, they charged us 15 cents a mile one way, if you can believe it...The train still provides the service for backpackers, but last time I did it, the fare had gone up to about $40 one way.

The 5th picture down looks a lot like the area just upstream from where the train used to drop us off.

[Santa Wally]

The photos are FABULOUS! They could be on picture postcards. Thanks for posting them.

[Tartan Hiker]

Great photos. I'll add this to my "things to see out west" list.

So what is the yellow stain on the rocks? I see the same color in what look like mine spoils on the hillside. Sulfur?