Large Scale Central

Durango & Silverton R.R

General Discussion
#1

As a recent convert to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, I have attempted to establish a history timeline. Now, I believe that the D&SNGRR was started around the early 1980’s to take over heritage tourist operations on the Silverton line. Also, when track was initially laid to Silverton, the line was termed Denver & Rio Grande Silverton branch. My question is at what point did the line officially become the Durango & Silverton Railroad or did this railroad every really exist, prior the formation of the heritage tourist line?

Google searches make reference to the Durango & Silverton Railroad back to the formation around 120 years ago. I always believed that the railroad was called D&RG/D&RGW, depending on the timeline. Basically, did rolling stock named specifically for the D&S, exist prior to the early 1980’s?

#2

Get this book, it will likely answer that question Think of the Slurpees you could dispense from that.
http://www.amazon.com/American-Narrow-Railroads-George-Hilton/dp/0804723699
American Narrow Gauge Railroads [Paperback]

Paperback: 600 pages

Publisher: Stanford University Press; 1 edition (January 1, 1995)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0804723699

ISBN-13: 978-0804723695

Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.1 x 1.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds

#3

The Silverton branch of the D&RGW was all set to be abandoned, when a rich Florida orange grower stepped up and bought the branch.
I have all the history of this branch in my library collection. (somewhere. :slight_smile: )
There was a separate RR called the Silverton, Gladstone & Northerly, among other numerous shortlines that served Colorado.

I have that book listed above.
I’ll look thru it and see if it answers your questions.

#4

The Durango & Silverton name came about in 1981 when Charles Bradshaw bought the line from the Rio Grande.

This link gives you some good info:

http://www.durangosilvertonrailroad.com/history

Rolling stock would not have been lettered for Durango & Silverton until 1981. Prior to this, the rolling stock would have been lettered Denver & Rio Grande, and later Denver & Rio Grande Western.

#5

To all many thanks. Thus any model railroad reference to the D&S would be the heritage tourist railroad post 1981.

#6

Durango was a major narrow gauge hub at one time. D&RGW had dual gauge track from Alamosa to Antonito, Colorado. The D&RGW narrow gauge ran from Antonito over Cumbres Pass through Chama (this part now the Cumbres & Toltec) and into Durango. A branch ran south out of Durango to Farmington, New Mexico and another north to Silverton. The Rio Grande Southern left Durango to the west through Mancos and then curved northward to Ridgeway, etc.

Out of Silverton were three Otto Mears narrow gauge railroads; The Silverton R.R., the Silverton Northern and the Silverton Gladstone & Northerly. They went up three different gorges forming what looked like a three fingered hand to serve mines and were a bit interchangeable as to equipment.