About San Juan County, CO

I loved Westerns when I was a kid. Towns like Durango, Cheyenne, and Denver always held an allure and fascination for me. What I didn't realize at the time was that many of those trains in my beloved westerns were filmed using the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad.

I have discussed how gold and silver was carried out of towns like Leadville, CO on stagecoaches. But that was only the first leg, the Narrow Gauge Railroad was used for a majority of the trip and was a practical solution for carrying freight as well as passengers.

Today, driving to Durango can take you 7-9 hours. The Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad line only takes 3.5 hours as it snakes through the San Juan mountains on a scenic route at approximately 18 miles per hour.

By 1882, tracks for the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad were completed. With the practicality of hauling freight a reality, the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad was also promoted for passengers desiring the stunning beauty of the trip.

During the Silver Crash of 1893, silver mines where forced to close. This and other issues threatened the very exsistance of the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. It was not until World War II that the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad was depended on again to carry freight, this time uranium.

By 1947, with the war over, the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad was again in jeopardy. Hollywood helped by using the locomotives in several movies including Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, How the West Was Won, Around the World in 80 Days and more. In the 1960's, the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad became a National Historic Landmark.

With the 100th anniversary of the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad, the line was purchased and restored by Charles E. Bradshaw. The passenger cars were winterized thus increasing tourist business.

Today, you can take a step back in time on the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad and enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery Colorado has to offer. The locomotives are impeccably maintained in their original condition by American Heritage Railways.

You can ride the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad starting at $83 and up.

To book reservations click the picture above