Steam & Excursion > Durango & Silverton Winter Photo Special

The Durango & Silverton ran its first Winter Photographers Special last weekend. They've been running the summer photo specials for fifteen years, but this is apparently the first time they've tried a winter one. There were about 86 of us on the train (K-28 473, a boxcar, a concessions car, three coaches, two open gons, and caboose 0500), and we headed out of Durango at 0800h, two hours before the regular train. Beautiful day - sunny and clear, but definitely cold. Not so bad at Durango proper, but by the time we got up into the Animas Canyon, it was definitely cold, probably down around 5-10 degrees in the morning.

From Durango, we headed straight up to the first photo run-by, just past Tacoma. The run-bys were all well organized, with the photo lines being marked off the day before by a work train crew. So, we all got our shot at steam in otherwise pristine conditions. From there, it was up to the Tall Timber resort for another set of run-bys. From there, it was more water at Needleton, and on to the old Cascade siding area for another set. After that, it was nearly noon, and so we backed to Cascade Wye, where we photographed the regular winter train (powered by another K-28, 478) coming in and turning around. Then a few run-bys of our own special, and back on board heading north again.

According to the crew, we were the first winter revenue train in 15 years to pass Cascade. North of about Needleton, the track sits in a narrow ravine all the way to Silverton, and as such has a significant avalanche danger during the winter season. So, service normally stops at the Cascade wye until summer, since it's the last place to turn the train. The crew ran a couple more run-bys across this stretch, finally reaching a couple miles short of Needleton, up to Schaaf's Ranch. From there, after the crew posed for pictures in front of 473, we backed the four miles down to the wye, turned, and headed back to Durango.

With the weather turning to gloom and snow, we ran two more runbys north of Tacoma near where we did the first ones of the day. After that, we headed on in to Durango, with it snowing on us most of the way down to the valley floor. On the way back, the announcement was made that the D&S crew would be giving tours of the roundhouse after we got back to anyone interested.

By the time we got back in the yard, the sun was out, which made stomping around the yard much more pleasant (and worthwhile, since the dense snow clouds block a lot of light). They let us into the roundhouse in small groups, and inside were at least four K-36s receiving work (486, 480, 481, and 482), along with 478 cooling down from pulling the day's regular train. Our 473 was still out switching around in the yard. After being in the roundhouse, I asked about the diesels, and our tour guide offered to haul a few of us around back to the yard in order to go photograph them. (I know, being in almost a shrine of steam and asking about diesels and all...)

While some grumbling about most of the runbys being from the wrong side could be heard, I'm pretty sure most of us realized that it would have been difficult to impossible to get them all on the "right" side for the light. The canyon is simply so deep at many points that space for a photo line is hard to find, and there's a very small window when the light would be right for any given spot. Personally I think they did a marvelous job of setting things up and getting it all to run smoothly for the passengers. I'll be back next year, and probably in the fall as well. (BTW, the fall photo special will be two days, overnighting in Silverton, this year, and include a night shoot at Silverton.)

All I have to say is thanks to the devoted D&S employees that took time to run a class act trip and then escort all of us fans through the facilities back in Durango - the trip itself was great, but having a tour around the yard really made the trip. You all are absolutely the best.

So, the part you were really looking for... pictures!
http://www.drgw.net/trips/report.php?tr=DNS1.1

Nathan
http://www.drgw.net

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Great shot, looks like they ought to do that ever winter now!

Thanks
Nathan Z.

V==E==R==Y NICE.* God Bless You.....VERNON FROM MISSOURI

Thanks, Nathan.

These are wonderful photos.

Dave