Iron Rails and Anasazi Trails

Last week we finally made it to Durango to ride the famed Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad (referred to hereafter as the DSNG). This quest really began some twenty years ago after I saw some video that a local couple had taken during their trip. At that time I thought that would be a neat family vacation and so I got everyone (this was before Matt and Danny) excited about it and took them to Durango during spring break. To get to the point, the train was not running because of the snow still on the tracks. We managed to save some of the vacation by driving to Silverton one day and visiting Mesa Verde the next. I meant to return but one thing or another kept getting in the way.

Heading out across the rez.

One strike against Durango is its location. It's just not in our DNA. With kids back east and up north that's generally the way we head when we get a little time to go somewhere.

Peg and Danny visiting four states in 2 seconds or less.


The drive across the reservation is a long one, but one I've always enjoyed doing. Our route took us through Page to Kaibeto, Teec Nos Pos and Four Corners.

Side note: This is the first big trip in a long, long time that involved NO freeways. Even a trip to St. George includes a short leg on I-15.

The Four Corners marker is completely on Indian land. The Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico corners are in the Navajo Reservation and the Colorado corner belongs to the Ute Mountain Tribe. We had to pay $3 a head to enter (which was not the case twenty years ago). Once there there's really not much to do except get your picture taken and say you've been there. There are quite a few stalls set up where Indian jewelry is sold.

All Aboard!!!

#630 was our car. It is enclosed and pretty nice, but I think next time (and I hope it doesn't take another 20 years!) I'll go for the open cars. The view is better. But only if the weather cooperates!

Choo-choo Danny checking out the scenery

Heading up the canyon of the Animas River

The DSNG railroad clings to the edge of the cliff above the Animas River in several places. The railroad was built to haul the ore out of the mines around Silverton. Before the railroad was built it could take the heavy-laden freight wagons as much as a week to make the trip. The railroad greatly reduced the time and expense of hauling ore and supplies and people up and down the canyon. It took us three and a half hours.

Side trail #2 (or maybe I should say railroad spur#2). The NG in DSNG stands for Narrow Gauge. The standard width of railroad tracks in America is 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches (don't ask me why) but the narrow gauge is only 3 feet. This allowed a railroad to be built quicker, cheaper, and negotiate mountainous terrain better.

Riding in style!

Here Peg and Danny enjoy the comforts of our car. Notice the complimentary cups. I'm sure they weren't complementary, the price of the tickets more than covered them!

Another view of the train and the Animas River

Gotta get that perfect shot!

Almost to Silverton

As the train nears Silverton, the valley floor starts to widen. Visible reminders of its mining history start to appear and soon the train pulls into Silverton. Without the train or tourism there wouldn't really be very much there today.

Peggy, Danny, and 482

Next up: Mesa Verde