Winter Steam 2023 on the Durango and Silverton

On February 11th and 12th, 2023, the Durango to Silverton ran their Winter Photographer's Special along the scenic Animas River. The theme this year was "50 Years Ago in the Snow" and K-28 Number 476 along with 330 series coaches were presented as they were in the 1970's, lettered for the D&RGW. The most notable feature was the diamond stack on the 476, something the 100 year-old Mikado hasn't worn since the early 1980's.
This video features runbys from both days, presented in the order they were performed between Pinkerton Siding and Milepost 480.5, north of the Cascade Wye.

[@TNRailProductions_01]

Fantastic video. 👍🏼

[@twiiii1]

This is undoubtedly the best winter video of the RR I have ever seen. I was an ambassador for the railroad when Charles Bradshaw owned the Rail Road and Amos Cordova was in charge of operations before becoming Mayor of Durango. I have been riding the RR consistently from the 70's for over 40 years. I have ridden the train over 200 times in all seasons. My favorite is during Fall Color then in the snow. Durango was our home away from home for many years.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

This is probably the best coverage I've seen of the charter. Keep it up.

[@7ideaproductions]

Thanks, I am really glad I got to participate in this.

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@7ideaproductions and sounds and looks like someone is doing a Cass Scenic Railroad whistle chorus style like other steam tourist railroad do as well too!

[@telsat]

Wow brings back the old days of traveling by trains. Excellent channel

[@jazzridez]

WOW. That's why I've ridden it 3 times and the first was 45 years ago. WOW, WOW.

[@dougkubash8673]

Another great video!! It's hard to beat the scenery!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Spectacular footage and video. Great sights and sounds from this operation. Enjoyed watching and have a wonderful rest of your day.(Steve)

[@7ideaproductions]

Thanks Steve, You too!

[@North_Cascade_Railfan]

I recommend going to Snoqualmie WA. They have a NP Steam loco # 924 that runs on special weekends, this year it’s Mother’s Day weekend (Past) Father’s Day weekend, first weekend of October (Don’t ever go from a long distance to see it then, it’s usually hot then and has gotten cancelled on some occasions) and First weekend of November.

[@demandred1957]

That was fantastic...

[@tylerg7567]

Stunningly beautiful

[@TrainWizardProductions]

Someday I’ll attend this charter!

[@7ideaproductions]

It is a must!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Great video!

[@7ideaproductions]

Thanks Drayton!

[@farmerdave7965]

Beauty !

[@CalifornianRailfan]

Love it!

[@markevans8262]

Great video - thank you for sharing it with us.

[@7ideaproductions]

Thanks for watching!

[@twiiii1]

We rode the train the day after Christmas 2023. 13 cars pulled by 480. I was in Durango the day of its first trip after being fully restored/ The Diesel helped from Hermosa to Rockwood for our after Christmas trip, then it was all steam after that. 478 was my favorite engine to Photograph. I sure missed the smell of coal smoke. I guess we will have to ride Chama to smell coal again. The Colorado Railroad MUSEUM IN GOLDEN has all my U-matic Video tapes of the Rio Grande narrow gauge trains. As I remember the river washed out the track two or three times over the years.

[@johnrockstone]

Wonderful video!🙂

[@7ideaproductions]

Thank you!

[@KPen3750]

I saw Horseshoe curve and thought "Damn this isn't in Pennsylvania, what the hell kinda sorcery is this!"

[@Chompchompyerded]

The last time I rode on the D&RG was on the last trip from Gunnison to Montrose. It got drowned under Blue Mesa Reservoir after that. Used to ride it down to Sapinero and to Lake City a lot. Don't seem all that long ago, but I guess it was. Heck, don't seem that long ago that I was a kid either, but it was. The ranchers around were still using overshot hay stackers back then, not the machines that roll it all up in a big round package. It's a whole different world now. Just can't believe how much things have changed. Never imagined I'd use a computer, much less own one, and our phones were party lines, and when you used it you were tethered to the wall. I wonder what the old ladies who used to spend all their time rubber-necking on the party line would do for fun now? They'd die of boredom, that's what.

[@zacharylucisbecker2352]

2:06 they are actually spark arrestors. And by the way, will this train video ever be on Blu-ray and dvd? I was just wondering.🤔

[@brianfalzon6739]

Wonder the line from Chama to Durango will be reconnected and restored again in the future because of the Narrow Gauge Scenic Byway project along with the Silverton Northern Railroad project as well?

[@donnellfilms7893]

Will this be on DVD?

[@jacobramsey7624]

There's Hice!! To the left of the cuppler.

[@davidwhiting1761]

16:48 The entire 3/4 Of An Idiot is there! Mark (Hyce) is the hippie with his foot on the pilot under the coupler, Leighton is off on the right in the either red or maroon suit, and Brett is standing in the back on the right in the brown coat with the red handkerchief and plaid shirt.

[@jacobramsey7624]

@@davidwhiting1761 thanks for the information! Looks like fun!!

[@anthem7582]

@@davidwhiting1761 Leighton was in the Red suit

[@Spook_Boi]

hot take i think 476 with the Diamond Stack looks really pretty

[@markdeschane4467]

What type of Locomotive is being used, K27 or K28?

[@csxrailfanbronyzachbecker2105]

00:02:06 they were actually spark registers

[@erikunderbar4265]

where is hyce

[@austinniederjohn9813]

I believe #480 is now on oil but at the time of this event she was still running on coal

[@markthomas6436]

I guess oil smoke is almost as good as coal smoke.

[@7ideaproductions]

Yeah almost but not quite the same. I guess it is better than no smoke.