Durango and Silverton Oil Fired Steam Trains

The Durango and Silverton is one of the premiere tourist railroads in the United States. In 2019, the railroad began a project to convert all of its steam locomotives to burn oil as a fuel source rather than coal. In this video, we'll take a look at trains on the Durango and Silverton pulled by some of these converted oil fired steam locomotives.
This video was made possible by my supporters on Patreon:
Adam Byrne
Bethany Chernay
Brian Zimmerman
Clarence Jackson
Jim Walker
Jovanni Cruz
Lyle C
Peter Della Flora
Thomas Jackson
Amtrak and AWVR Fan
ShadowSteel18
Cristian C
Vinny G
Malcom B.
Lane's Trains
Lachlan B.
Beyond Aviation
And many more!
CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!
©2024 Mike Armstrong Media

[@Gdayhomie]

I rode the D&S last year in celebration of my high school graduation. My train was pulled by the "Unlucky" 473 (in reference to its history of being in a string of unfortunate incidents) and 476. It was an unreal experience that I've never felt before or since. I hope i get to ride it with my grandfather in the near future. Regardless of what these engines are powered by, they do their job well and are beautiful machines of a bygone era

[@Republic_of_trains]

Did you say *4 7 3 ?*

[@atsfevan0242]

9:25 that’s me right there on the train! In the green jacket, black hat and making the gasping look on my face!

[@andrewschannel4259]

I rode the steam train on the 4th of July last summer. I don't even think the phrase "I loved it" can describe how I felt when we got off the train. I cannot emphasize this enough: YOU NEED TO RIDE THE DURANGO & SILVERTON RAILROAD AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE.

[@rypatmackrock]

And would you ever dream of ever seeing the Cumbres and Toltec railroad have its road bed extended from Chama back to Durango; even if there’s a modern freeway built since? I hope to at least ride both railroads myself.

[@TrainStory281]

Thank you so much for posting your video, The Durango and Silverton narrow gauge trains was a blast, we are so pleasant, and I do appreciate you, Thanks for having you. ❤️❤️👍🏻👍🏻🚂🚂

[@theaustinleeytchanneltalytc]

Nice video! Can't get the song about the Durango & Silverton out of my head.

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

They are going to have to update the lyrics since there won't be any more coal to be shoveling! :)

[@coolleo149]

480’s whistles sounds very nice!

[@kptrains]

Great captures of the oil fired steam locomotives!

[@ronalddevine9587]

Absolutely beautiful scenery and photography. The train is in a class of its own. Love the sound of the whistle.

[@kevp9601]

Mister Mike Armstrong, This is Why I Love Steam Locomotives And/Or Steam Trains The Most

[@andross51]

lol I am a bit jealous Mike! The Durango and Silverton RR is one steam RR I would give ANYTHING to film! Again another great video! Love steam engines like these still running! :)

[@PrincessAmtrakMinamoto]

1:44 Nice video with Steam Trains. 🙂

[@kevp9601]

Mister Mike Armstrong, Thank You So Much. And I Love Steam Locomotives And/Or Steam Trains The Most, You Know.

[@Marontyne]

amazing video Mike Armstrong❤🎉

[@Whistlestop_Productions]

Awesome video, Mike! I haven't been to the Durango and Silverton since 2016. Cool to see that the entire loco fleet is now converted to oil. Keep up the amazing content! 👏

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

As much as it sucks that the trains are no longer coal fired, if having them be oil fired means that the steam hauled trains will keep running, I think conversion to oil is a small price to pay.

[@MidnightBonnie2015]

These engines give me so much nostalgia!

[@declankazem6111]

I like these kind of trains they are so popular on the railroad Hopefully these trains are still running this year so people can enjoy their journey Hopefully these trains aren't retired

[@johnmichaels.1212]

They're in no danger of being retired anytime soon. The D&S is actually beginning an operational restoration on one of their steam engines that's been out of service since 2016 early this year, and they have a fully capable mechanical department.

[@katerinakittycat3849]

And now they won't set the San Juan national forest on fire

[@kevp9601]

Happy Saturday, Mister Mike Armstrong !

[@jggameplay3829]

Cool

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Definitely my future objective! Love to film this railroad! Oh and also tomorrow is my birthday!!

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

Amazing video Mike!! Glad to see these hardworking narrow gauge K-27’s still running!

[@johnmichaels.1212]

The D&S only has k-36s, k-28s and one operational k-37. The cumbres and toltec has one k-27, and the huckleberry railroad in Michigan has the other.

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

@@johnmichaels.1212 ooooh ok, not that smart in NG, so I thought they used K-27’s, pretty much the only NG steam I know until now.

[@Marontyne]

hmmm🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔⏩:⁠-⁠[

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

C&TS has the only K27 running on old rio grande rails, with the only other surviving locomotive being in flint Michigan

[@AhmearClayIombo-dj6di]

I Love Steam Trains Awesome Video

[@kevp9601]

BEST "NEW" KZbin VIDEO IN THE UNIVERSE

[@DH0714]

Thank you for the vidio clips! I've been watching you for a long time in korea!!

[@brianfalzon6739]

Thanks for this documentary about how it all happened!

[@thetoontrain6073]

Currently live very close to the railroad. I always go there. After some time they finally put RGS 42 Back in the museum. And boy her pilot looks horrible. It’s crusting away. Literally. But she’s doing fine

[@SeanJAnimations]

"Oil burns alot cleaner compared to coal" meanwhile the firemen cranking the lever at 6:25

[@4-8-4Northern]

What I love is how these tiny 2-8-2s pull trains that long.

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

Hello Mike, another fantastic video from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway. The video will make the heart of a steam locomotive fan swell. Thank you very much for showing it and best regards from Germany. Wolfgang👍👍👍👍🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@user-rp6dl3iz6z]

Thanks for all of the train vids! Especially the socal ones! I love the Surfline and I’ve always wanted to go to LA San Diego and back! But that aside thanks for changing railfanning for the better!

[@MattMills91]

Me and my wife rode this train on our first wedding anniversary in June 2016 when they would have still been coal fired. I would imagine the conversion to oil fire would make the ride a better experience as there would (probably) be less soot in your eyes. Regardless, it was fantastic! I highly suggest the open-air car to ride in, especially in the summer months like when we went. Also fun fact, that was the day that I learned what the term "sun kink" meant. Just happened to find the pictures and videos I took, and it was engine number 482 that took us.

[@elijahglasser1421]

Totally excellent

[@kevp9601]

GO, STEAM TRAINS, GO ! 😃

[@kevp9601]

I LOVE IT A LOT

[@jacksalvin364]

These locomotives were delivered to the Rio Grande as coal burners. The following year, some of them were converted to oil.

[@TrainsStudio33]

I like steam trains❤

[@Ian-qs3fz]

dangerously close to 1 million

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Wow fantastic video and scenery in this video. enjoyed watching ocne again and have a wonderful upcoming weekend.(Steve)

[@John-wd5om]

This video is spectacular 😊

[@HarborSubHughley]

Fun video Mike

[@ogjk]

Going to miss that sweet toxic billowing smoke on the Colorado narrow gauge.

[@paulcastillo1310]

Cool video

[@kevp9601]

INFINITE SMILEY FACES FOR VERY VERY AMAZING 😃😃😃

[@Mack730]

Cool video🎉

[@kevp9601]

Mister Mike Armstrong, I will See You Down The Line To You Too, Friend ! I Love You ! 🛤🛤🛤🛤🖲🔀⏭⏮🚂🚂🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋

[@superbaddy4]

I went to the Durango and Silverton last year. They're temporarily displaying 478 inside their museum until they'll take it in to likewise become an Oil Burner. My main interest there was to see two very certain Diesels they've been keeping stored there, though.

[@Gdayhomie]

Are the diesels you're referring to the DL535s? I was there last year and they had 2 running the first train of the day

[@superbaddy4]

No, the F40NGs. The ones that are never, ever going to run.

[@royreynolds108]

Did you happen to notice the 6-axle 75-ton Porter; the one with the end-cab? It was built in 1946 for the US Gypsum Co. in Plaster City, CA. It replaced the steamers on the mine train from the gypsum mine. It is the one and only one of its kind. I don't know what engine is in it now but when it was built and up through ownership and use on the Huckleberry RR at Flint, MI, it had a 6-cylinder, 600 HP Cooper-Bessemer diesel for the prime mover. I have seen photos of 1203 at Durango and at Silverton.

[@superbaddy4]

Not sure if I did. I was really focus-locked on seeing those F40NGs.

[@kevp9601]

CERTIFIED FRESH VANILLA CAKES FOR VERY VERY EXQUISITE 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

[@TrainMedia00]

I really miss the coal fired locomotives on the D&SNWRR and their are lots of changes on the railroad. 😢😢 but I like the K-28s there.

[@Big_Diehl]

*Pops Popcorn *😅

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

🌿🏵️🇮🇳🏵️🌿 Nice Video!

[@EeveeFans1996]

7:00 Larry Nawrocki the New York Central L Class Mohawk's Whistle

[@royreynolds108]

Most of the line is as it was when built in 1881 except for the use of the Ks instead of 2-8-0s.

[@sobatjathiljakamurasakichannel]

Woo...train 👍👍👍

[@OG-Productions]

I love the Durango and silverton sad how the 416 fire happened

[@jasongunther1929]

You should do a video on the Yosemite mountain sugar pine railroad shay locomotives!

[@brucebecker3740]

I was under the impression from what was being said about the oil conversions that one of the d&s steam engines was staying on coal for special occasions

[@bluepoppy1026]

I believe that was the original idea but after they thought about it more the D&S came to the conclusion that keeping one coal and the rest oil didn't make any financial or practical sense.

[@LuisUrbieta]

Hi Mike, you should do a big video on El Tren Maya. Plz reply

[@seanmas7599]

Good idea since wildfire are not good like 2023 with Canada Hawaii and California.

[@keretaGaming99]

I made a wooden train🖐🖐😊

[@nathanmatthews6930]

Wow

[@arandomuser101]

A new vid

[@Republic_of_trains]

D&S, My love💋

[@ryanpoulin5144]

I Like these old steam trains. Can you do a video about former Canadian Pacific now Ohio Central GB5 class locomotive 1293? I also has a history of black in a movie starring Ben Jonson and Jamie Lee Curtis in 1980 named TERROR TRAIN as engine 1881. Dosen't that sound like a cool idea? Please and Thank You.

[@rogerlollar4325]

Coal burning on the D&S it's gone NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[@chooch1764]

Big deal.

[@SeanJAnimations]

Its just the fuel m8. Besides its easier in the firemen