Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Through the San Juans

Since 1881, the Silverton Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western has been a consistently active railroad. Originally built for Silver mining operations, the railroad evolved over the years into one of the most beloved tourist railroads in the world. While the rest of the D&RGW narrow gauge was abandoned and torn up in the 1960s and 70s, excluding what is now the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the Silverton Branch was booming with activity. Many Hollywood movies had been filmed on the Silverton Branch and that boosted its popularity with tourists visiting from around the world, despite the D&RGW's constant efforts to abandon it. Finally, in 1981, Charles Bradshaw purchased the branch line and as many locomotives as possible, rebranding the line as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and has been operating ever since. We visited the railroad twice during the 2023 summer season, with a mission to get as many shots, and the best shots possible of the double-headed powered steam trains to Silverton. With either K-28s #473, sporting a D&RGW 3 Chime, and #476, sporting a Southern Pacific 6 Chime, heading the train together or one of the K-28s with K-36 #482, sporting a Crosby 3 Chime, or K-37 #493, sporting a Texas & Pacific replica 3 Chime. The crews and locomotives put on a fantastic show making their way through the beautiful scenery of La Plata and San Juan counties. We would like to thank our friends @PennsyPro and @RailFoxMedia for visiting the railroad with us this year, along with members from @AmericanSteamRailroad who were also visiting the railroad. Without a doubt, we would like to thank all of the railroad employees who work hard every day to keep this amazing and historic railroad alive and well for generations to come. We hope you enjoy our production of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad!
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:17 - Durango
4:18 - Rotary Park
4:50 - 32nd Street
5:18 - 36th Street
6:01 - Oxbow Park
6:26 - Event Park
6:47 - Home Ranch
7:26 - Riverbend Ranch
7:52 - Animas Valley
8:12 - Pond Curve
8:50 - Trimble
9:26 - Hermosa
9:59 - Lockes Mountain Road
10:43 - Milepost 467
11:18 - Elbert Creek
12:37 - Rockwood
15:35 - The Highline
16:11 - Tall Timber
16:23 - Tank Creek
16:34 - Deer Park Creek
17:07 - Cataract Gulch
18:11 - Milepost 495.7
18:55 - Mineral Creek
19:27 - Silverton
21:53 - Wye Operations
26:45 - Silverton
29:00 - Silverton Bridge
29:57 - Onboard
30:41 - Rockwood (Helper)
31:23 - Overland Curve
32:19 - The Highline
34:54 - Rockwood
35:41 - Lockes Mountain Road
36:04 - Hermosa
37:38 - Hermosa Meadows
38:00 - Trimble
38:34 - Pond Curve
39:03 - Animas Valley
39:25 - Riverbend Ranch
39:55 - Home Ranch
40:18 - Event Park
40:51 - 32nd Street
41:26 - 2nd Avenue
41:43 - 15th Street
42:38 - Durango
45:15 - Credits
Instagram: / arkansas_locomotive_works
Copyright 2023, Jack Fellure.
Any sort of reproduction or reuse of this footage without permission will have to bring consequences to those who decided to not abide by this request. I take a lot of time money, and effort into these, and I would appreciate it if you respect what I request.

[@micksavage]

Thanks for a superb video, bringing back thrilling memories of riding on the D & S when we visited from the UK. Since then I have modelled the railroad in Sn3 scale and I have a K28 on my roster.

[@user-wu1ds2sz3w]

Beautiful video. Perfect! I love your clean clear lens work. I watch this video Multiple times.

[@uptownphotography]

Totally cool to watch...I model the Colorado type railroads and it's a great resource to see the real thing for reference. Thanks for posting it (and filming it) and thanks to all the crews of the respective narrow gauge engines... Phil

[@bobkonradi1027]

The portion of the trip where the tracks are paralleling the Animas River is spectacular. As we know, the Coors Brewing Company is located in Colorado, and they advertise their beer is brewed "with clear Rocky Mountain Spring Water." I therefore refer to the Animas River, especially north of Durango, as being "Coors Beer, Part 1." The entire trip from Durango to Silverton, and back to Durango, is just one spectacular sight after another. The A.L.W. has done a most excellent job in selecting the best parts of the trip, and then putting this video together.

[@ulrichschuz2715]

Vielen Dank für diesen excellenten Film. Er begeistert, wie schon diese ganz besondere Bahn, die eine echte Attraktion ist.

[@spagelsmegal]

God I love the sport models so much they have perfect proportions and look awesome when they do the dance down the track

[@RailFoxMedia]

Appreciate tagging along with you bruv. Hope to be back again soon…

[@slanderedstone]

Gotta love that DRGW 3 chime

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I agree it’s very interesting I didn’t know until recently that the three chime was a custom whistle originally constructed by the DRGW and I think there’s a second one that is mounted on 491 at the Colorado railroad museum correct me if I’m wrong

[@robertcovell2787]

Oh I like that shot with the reflection in the water around the 8 min mark.

[@octane2099]

very underrated channel you got some good stuff.

[@MPT_Productions]

Very nice comprehensive video, Jack!

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed :)

[@mahmoodQureshikohatiPakistan]

Good

[@andrewschannel4259]

When did you make these clips? I was on the train on the 4th of July 2023.

[@brianfalzon6739]

Here’s my opinion on those whistle that the engines are wearing this year 1. 476 with a SP 6 Chime sounds like 2472 and 3751 2. 482 with a Crosby 3 Chime sounds a bit like 4501 3. 493 with a T&P Hancock 3 Chime sounds like 610 4. 473 with a D&RGW 3 Chime sounds like 425’s CB&Q 3 Chime.

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

Don’t forget 480 wearing a bespoke reading 6 chime!

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

The six chime whistle on engine 476 is a real contrast to her usual lunkenheimer 3 chime whistle and the 5 chime whistle she once wore in the 1990s Yep both equally beautiful sounding. I’m not sure if that’s a Nathan or a Santa Fe whistle correct me if I’m wrong.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

It's a Southern Pacific

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

Same one 480s been intermittently wearing the last few years

[@TwoRibbonRailvideos]

Very nice video! My question (as someone who is planning an eventual visit to this operation) is how do you manage to get between all these remote spots and still manage to keep up with the train?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

I spent about 4 days in early June and 3 days in early July up there this year to get enough footage for this production. Simply enough, spending enough days will get you plenty of shots. You really cannot chase the train in spots between Rockwood and Silverton as the highway traverses along the mountains and the train stays down in the Canyon. I've also spent plenty of time up here beforehand so I've had a few years of knowledge of the roads and such. But once again, spending about 3 or 4 days will get you a fair amount of footage. Even 2 wouldn't be half bad. One day simply isn't enough.

[@TwoRibbonRailvideos]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks Thanks for the info. Was likely planning for it to be a C&TS + D&S combo trip, with 2 days dedicated to each railroad. Thinking about late summer of 2024 time wise as well, as I'd like to see a doubleheader or two during peak season.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

@@TwoRibbonRailvideos Every daily steam powered excursion to Silverton is a guaranteed doubleheader.

[@TwoRibbonRailvideos]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks Oh wow, thanks again for the info!

[@railhunterproductions]

How do you access the highline?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Hiking in from Rockwood.

[@railhunterproductions]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks Good to know, thanks

[@mumumaaaah]

Hi Arkansas locomotive works I’m getting a book on the 470s

[@CameraManRailFan]

476 with a 6 chime Bottom text

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

It's a blessing.

[@CameraManRailFan]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks indeed it is

[@hmmm7456]

Don't we all

[@Samueljackson8020]

Question : why is your name Arkansas locomotive work if you are from Colorado

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Who said I was from Colorado?

[@Samueljackson8020]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks most of your videos are from Colorado so I just thought that you were from Colorado sorry if I made you mad