The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs
about 45 miles through the Animas River Valley between Durango, where the main station
is located, and Silverton, where you disembark and have a couple of hours
to catch lunch and visit the many touristy stores. You then have the option
of riding the train back to Durango (making it an all day trip) or taking
a bus back. The buses are also run by the train company. If the trains out
of Durango are sold out (as they often are), you may be able to take the
bus up to Silverton and ride the train back. Below are several photos of
the trains and the scenery. The tracks run along the western boundary of
the Weminuche Wilderness and provide access for backpackers and fishermen
into and out of the wilderness at the Needleton and Elk Park stops. For
information, call (303) 247-2733 or write to 479 Main Avenue, Durango, CO
81301.
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad runs 64 miles
between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, and crosses the border
between the two states over a dozen times on its trip. It was built in 1880
as the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande, but the difficult
terrain required a narrow gauge rail line. Today, the round trip necessitates
an overnight stay in one town or the other, or a van ride back to your starting
point. Most travelers ride halfway to Osier, where they eat lunch and then
return to their point of origin, seeing only half the line. I've ridden
the train from both ends on two different occasions, and I prefer the western
portion out of Chama.
The trip from Chama crosses Cumbres Pass (10,015 feet high) and the trip
from Antonito passes alongside the spectacular Toltec Gorge of the Los Pinos
River. These two landmarks provide the name of the railroad. The states
of Colorado and New Mexico are co-owners of the line and it is often called
a moving museum of travel from an earlier day. Both the Chama and Antonito
train yards are open for inspection of the rolling stock and buildings,
unlike the Durango/Silverton line which has its yard fenced off. For information,
call (719) 376-5483 or (505) 756-2151, or write to P.O. Box 789, Chama,
NM 87520.
The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs three miles between Georgetown (8476 feet) and Silver Plume (9114 feet) Colorado, next to the famous Eisenhower Tunnel, 55 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70. The train travels across the 95 foot high, 300 foot long steel trestle Devil's Gate High Bridge as well as the Georgetown Loop where it circles around and above itself to gain the altitude needed to achieve Silver Plume. The round trip takes only one hour, and there is an optional tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine. For information, call (888) 456-6777 or write to P.O. Box 249, Georgetown, CO 80444.
(click here for photos)
(click here for live
camera shot of Pikes Peak)
The Pike's Peak Cog Railway is located just out of Colorado Springs in Manitou Springs (elevation 6571 feet.) The Swiss-made trains travel 46,158 linear feet to the top of 14,110 foot high Pike's Peak, making the round trip in 3 hours and ten minutes, including a short time at the Summit House which has restrooms, a concession counter, an information desk, and a curio shop. The 7539 feet of elevation gain averages out to 847 feet up per mile. Only a cog railway system could climb such an incline. For information, call (719) 685-5401 or write 515 Ruxton Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80901.
The Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad Company begins in Leadville, Colorado, the highest incorporated town in the USA at 10,200 feet elevation, departs from its century-old depot, and follows the headwaters of the Arkansas River up to a spectacular view of Fremont Pass and a distant look at the Climax Molybdenum Mine. On the trip back down to town, there is a brief stop at the old French Gulch water tower from which you can see Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak. The trip covers about 22 miles round-trip in 2 1/2 hours and goes up about 700 feet. This is a standard gauge railroad with a diesel locomotive, though an old steamer is on display in the parking lot. For information, call (719) 486-3936 or write 326 East 7th Street, P. O. Box 916, Leadville, CO 80461.
Clarkdale, Arizona, is the home of the Verde Canyon Railroad, a 40 mile round-trip journey along the Verde River of central Arizona, one hour north of Phoenix and an hour southwest of Flagstaff. The new depot, opened in 1997, is magnificent, and the riparian scenery along the route sharply contrasts with the surrounding desert views. Bald eagles and their nests and Sinagua Indian ruins are seen from the train, and off in the distance, the Mogollon Rim (Colorado Plateau) and Black Mountain are obvious. Most of the trip is through the Coconino National Forest or the Prescott National Forest, and the Sycamore Wilderness adjoins the route. For information, call (800) 293-7245 or write 300 North Broadway, Clarkdale, AZ 86324.
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