Steam & Excursion > The D&S RR received a $1.9 million Grant.

Durango & Silverton RR will receive a CRISI Grant of $1.9 million to build a replacement bridge over the Animas River next to a overage and overstressed bridge.  The location was not identified other than it will replace the 242 foot long old bridge.  

At 5 AM Tuesday morning 9/22/20 after the parking lot was cleared of recent train rider, the WP&Y #101 arrived and was placed on it wheels by a crane, but will sit out for a while as the roundhouse is full and the new diesel shop is not built..

Two US Senator encouraged the money as they identified the railroad making a $200 million economic impact with 270,000 traveler in 2019. It also was stressed that the railroad was injured by a recent washout and an expensive vegetation removal projects.  The new bridge is not the recent washout as from most reports it was not damaged and only dirt washed out from under the adjacent track.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/20 13:33 by PlyWoody.

More likely the bridge to be replaced is the low trestle just south of Silverton.  There is has been talk for years about replacing it

Had to look up CRISI - Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program

https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/competitive-discretionary-grant-programs/consolidated-rail-infrastructure-and-safety-2

At the link are entities that are entitled to receive a grant - Most are state and public agencies and Class II and III railroads. The only one I see that fits the definition of a privately owned tourist railroad is #6, in this case between the cities of Durango and Silverton:

6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides intercity rail passenger transportation;

Seems like a stretch for tax money--but---I like the idea.
RB

Not the bridge that is damaged  now  is causing service to be cancelled  tosilverton  , another one it seems then?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/20 15:37 by dan.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Had to look up CRISI - Consolidated Rail
> Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program
>
> https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/competitive
> -discretionary-grant-programs/consolidated-rail-in
> frastructure-and-safety-2
>
> At the link are entities that are entitled to
> receive a grant - Most are state and public
> agencies and Class II and III railroads. The only
> one I see that fits the definition of a privately
> owned tourist railroad is #6, in this case between
> the cities of Durango and Silverton:
>
> 6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides
> intercity rail passenger transportation;

“6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides intercity rail passenger?” transportation;
 When the ICC made their ruling in 1970 abandoning 150 miles of narrow gauge it by design isolated the Silverton Branch.   The ICC specifically required the line to be operated with the same interstate and interline rates and tariffs that the D&RGW was serving the 45 mile line at that time.  The new Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR agreed to comply with that ruling.  The branch was and still is an interstate common-carrier and the passenger train, although is an intrastate movement, is operating on an interstate railroad receiving the grant.  
 

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not the bridge that was damaged t, another one it
> seems then?

No, the "damaged" bridge was over a side creek to the Animas River (Elk Creek).  The bridge itself had little to no damage, it just got plugged with runoff debris, the creek cut a new channel and washed out the approaches to the bridge.

Thanks Earl

PlyWoody Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cumbresfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Had to look up CRISI - Consolidated Rail
> > Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program
> >
> >
> https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/competitive
>
> >
> -discretionary-grant-programs/consolidated-rail-in
>
> > frastructure-and-safety-2
> >
> > At the link are entities that are entitled to
> > receive a grant - Most are state and public
> > agencies and Class II and III railroads. The
> only
> > one I see that fits the definition of a
> privately
> > owned tourist railroad is #6, in this case
> between
> > the cities of Durango and Silverton:
> >
> > 6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides
> > intercity rail passenger transportation;
>
> “6) Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides
> intercity rail passenger?” transportation;
>  When the ICC made their ruling in 1970
> abandoning 150 miles of narrow gauge it by design
> isolated the Silverton Branch.   The ICC
> specifically required the line to be operated with
> the same interstate and interline rates and
> tariffs that the D&RGW was serving the 45 mile
> line at that time.  The new Durango & Silverton
> Narrow Gauge RR agreed to comply with that
> ruling.  The branch was and still is an
> interstate common-carrier and the passenger train,
> although is an intrastate movement, is operating
> on an interstate railroad receiving the grant.  
>  

What year is it on YOUR calendar? You do know the Southern won a few deregulatory cases since then?

Dreamer

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