Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
The railroad runs along the wall of a gorge
Location:	Durango, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado
Built/Founded:	1882
Architect:	Gen. William J. Palmer
Architectural style(s):	No Style Listed
Designated as NHL:	July 04, 1961[1]
Added to NRHP:	October 15, 1966[2]
NRHP Reference#:	66000247
Governing body:	Private

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG)^[3] is a narrow gauge heritage railroad in the U.S. State of Colorado that operates over the 45 miles (72 km) of 36-inch (914 mm) track between Durango in La Plata County and Silverton in San Juan County. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and is also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Official language(s) English Demonym Coloradan Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th in the US  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The dominant rail gauge in each country shown Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. ... Downtown Durango, Colorado Durango (Navajo: Kinłání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Downtown Durango, Colorado Durango (Navajo: Kinłání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). ... Miners cabin at the edge of town Downtown The historic Town of Silverton is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of San Juan County, Colorado, United States. ... William Jackson Palmer (1836-1909) civil engineer, soldier, builder of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and founder of Colorado Springs, Colorado William Jackson Palmer (September 17, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer, soldier, industrialist, and philanthropist. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... A narrow gauge railway (or narrow gauge railroad) is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) of standard gauge railways. ... A scene on a heritage railway. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Downtown Durango, Colorado Durango (Navajo: Kinłání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). ... La Plata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... Miners cabin at the edge of town Downtown The historic Town of Silverton is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of San Juan County, Colorado, United States. ... San Juan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... “ASCE” redirects here. ... The following is a partial list of historic civil engineering landmarks as designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers since it began the program in 1964. ...

The trackage was originally built between 1881 and 1882, by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, in order to carry silver and gold ore mined in the San Juan Mountains. The line was an extension of the D&RG narrow gauge from Antonito, Colorado to Durango. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad operates the line from Antonito to Chama, New Mexico. The line from Chama to Durango has been abandoned and removed. The line from Durango to Silverton, however, has run continuously since 1881, although it is now a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers, and is one of the few places in the United States which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives. In March 1981, the Denver & Rio Grande Western sold the line and the D&SNG was formed. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (AAR reporting mark DRG and DRGW) generally referred to as the Rio Grande, became the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in 1920, and is today a fallen flag (a railroad that has been absorbed into a larger system -- Union Pacific -- as the result... This article is about the chemical element. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... The San Juan Mountains are a rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. ... Antonito is a town in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. ... Downtown Durango, Colorado Durango (Navajo: Kinłání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). ... The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is a narrow gauge heritage railway running between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. ... Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. ... One of the last mainline steam locomotives built in the UK: British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 no. ...

Some of the rolling stock dates back to the 1880s. The trains run from Durango to the Cascade Wye in the winter months and run from Durango to Silverton during the summer months.

Museums

The facility has two internal museums, the Silverton Freight Museum and the Durango Museum.^[4] These Museums house some of the historic locomotives and railway equipment of this narrow gauge line.

History

The train pulls into Silverton

William Jackson Palmer was a railroad engineer who rose within the Pennsylvania Railroad to be secretary to the president. After he served in the American Civil War as a general, he began dreaming of a north-south Mexico-Colorado railroad, and he built the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He believed narrow gauge lines were suited to the mountainous areas of Colorado.^[5] William Jackson Palmer (1836-1909) civil engineer, soldier, builder of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and founder of Colorado Springs, Colorado William Jackson Palmer (September 17, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer, soldier, industrialist, and philanthropist. ... 1893 map The Pennsylvania Railroad (AAR reporting mark PRR) was an American railroad that was founded in 1846 and merged in 1968 into Penn Central Transportation. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Categories: Rail stubs | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Colorado railroads | New Mexico railroads | Utah railroads ...

On August 5, 1881 the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad arrived in Durango, Colorado. Durango was founded by the D&RG in 1880. Construction to Silverton, Colorado began that fall. Only 11 months later did the D&RG reach Silverton in July 1882. Trains hauling passengers and freight began immediately. By 1885 the population of Silverton had grown to 1100. Additional narrow gauge track was laid out of Silverton in 1887. In 1893, 10 large mines in the Silverton district were forced to close when silver prices dropped from $1.05/oz to $.63/oz. In 1889 a fire in Durango virtually destroyed downtown. In 1902 the first automobile arrived by train. is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Categories: Rail stubs | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Colorado railroads | New Mexico railroads | Utah railroads ... Downtown Durango, Colorado Durango (Navajo: Kinłání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). ... Miners cabin at the edge of town Downtown The historic Town of Silverton is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of San Juan County, Colorado, United States. ...

The railroad was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.^[1][5] This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ...

D&S Engines

The D&S operates coal-fired steam engines and diesel engines.

Steam

Technical Information

Steam locomotive #482 & #480

The steam-powered locomotives used today on the D&S were built during the 1920s. There are two classes, K-28s and K-36s, which are based on wheel, driver arrangement, and pulling power of the locomotive.

The K represents the nickname "Mikado" that describes a Japanese locomotive design of 2-8-2. Two non-powered, pivoting wheels in front, of eight driving wheels, which are connected to driving rods powered by the engines pistons, and finally two non-powered trailer wheels located under the cab of the locomotive.

The numbers 28 and 36 designate pulling or tractive effort of the locomotive in thousands of pounds. The tractive effort of K-28s with a full tender is rated at 27,500 pounds, and the tractive effort of a K-36 is a 36,200 pounds. The weight of a K-28 with a full tender is 254,500 and a K-36 weighs 286,600 pounds with a full tender.

470 Series

The 470 series or K-28 locomotives were ten engines designed for passenger service along the D&RG. They were built by the American Locomotive Company (Alco) in Schenectady, New York, in 1923. Alco and ALCO redirect here. ... Schenectady (IPA ) is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. ...

Out of the original ten only three 470s remain, and all are owned by the D & S. The other seven were requisitioned by the United States Army in 1942 to be used on the White Pass & Yukon Route in Alaska during World War II. They were later dismantled for scrap in 1946. The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... The White Pass steam locomotive is shown here between Bennett, British Columbia and Skagway The White Pass and Yukon Route (WP&Y) is a narrow gauge railroad linking the port of Skagway, Alaska with Whitehorse, the capital of Canadas Yukon Territory. ... For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Locomotives 473, 476, and 478 operated on many parts of the D&RGW. Engine 473 served frequently on the Chili Line that operated between Antonito, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico. 473 served on the Chili Line until it was abandoned in 1941. 476 and 478 saw an extensive service on the San Juan passenger train, which ran between Durango, Colorado and Alamosa, Colorado until 1951. 473, 476, and 478 operated on the Silverton Branch from the 1950s through 1980.

480 Series

The 480 series or K-36 locomotives were ten engines designed for the D&RGW. They were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1925. The 480's were the last ten narrow gauge locomotives constructed for the DRGW, and among the last built for work in the United States. The 480s were used for freight-hauling throughout the D&RGW narrow gauge network. Baldwin Locomotive Works builders plate, 1922 The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ...

D&S owns four K-36s: 480, 481, 482, and 486. Engines 483, 484, 487, 488, and 489 are owned by the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. 485, unfortunately, fell into the turntable pit in Salida, Colorado in 1955. It was scrapped for parts thereafter. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is a narrow gauge heritage railway running between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. ... Salida is a tweekey little city in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. ...

Locomotive 315

Locomotive 315 is a C-18 locomotive, built in 1895. It was restored to operating condition in 2007 by the Durango Railroad Historical Society, which operates the locomotive occasionally on both the Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic.[1]

Diesel

The D&S operates five diesel engines. Narrow gauge diesel engines are just as rare as other narrow gauge equipment. All the diesel engines are of center cab style, where the cab straddles the center of the engine.

Hotshot #1 is a 50 ton center cab engine built in 1957.

PB 2 is a 55 ton center cab engine built in 1951.

Big Al #7 is a 87 ton center cab engine built in 1975. Big Al is named after the owner of the D&S, Allen C. Harper.

Engines #9 and #11 are both 90 ton center cab engines.

In popular culture

The train was made more famous in the song The Silverton, by C.W. McCall. C.W. McCall is the pseudonym of William Dale Fries (born November 15, 1928) in Audubon, Iowa, USA. In 1972, while working for an Omaha, Nebraska advertising firm, Bozell Jacobs, Fries created a television campaign for the Metz Baking Company. ...

The D&S was a featured locale in the 1950 Technicolor western movie A Ticket to Tomahawk. This film's spectacular scenery and machinery was not obscured by a noticeable plot, but was complemented by a brief bit-player appearance by Marilyn Monroe. The film is out of print as of August 2006. A Ticket to Tomahawk is a 1950 comedy/western film directed by Richard Sale and starring Dan Dailey and Anne Baxte. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson;[1] June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe award winning[2] American actress, singer, model, Hollywood icon,[3] cultural icon, fashion icon,[4] pop icon and sex symbol. ...

The D&S is the train in the beginning of the 2006 movie The Prestige. The Prestige is a 2006 period film directed by Christopher Nolan, with a screenplay adapted from the 1995 World Fantasy Award-winning novel of the same name by Christopher Priest. ...

The D&S is also featured in the film Around the World in Eighty Days (1956 film). Around the World in Eighty Days is a 1956 adventure film made by the Michael Todd Company and released by United Artists. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Rail transport in Colorado

• Heritage railroads in Colorado
• List of heritage railroads in the United States
• Colorado Railroad Museum

The Colorado Railroad Museum is a non-profit heritage railway established in 1959 to preserve for future generations a tangible record of Colorados flamboyant railroad era, particularly the states pioneering narrow gauge mountain railroads. ...

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

• Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Photos
• Community Portal for Visitors