Nostalgia & History > Six days on the former DRGW narrow gauge

A friend and I flew into Durango to spend six days chasing the D&S and C&TS.  My traveling campanion Rey Barraza and I had first visited Durango together in January 1960 when we were both college students and DRGW was still runnng freight trains.  So it was fun being able to do it again.  The first three days were based out of Durango.  It was not a hard core photography trip, but we didn't forget our cameras.  Here are a few pix of the D&S....fall color in the Animas meadows, a doubleheader at what I call Leaky Pipe, and finally  the grand entrance to Silverton.

JBWX



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/25 22:12 by jbwest.

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Then we moved on to Chama where the Friends of the C&TS were running a photo freight with helpers.  It is absolutely amazing that the C&TS, supported by the Friends who maintain all the non-revenue freight equipment, can put on a show like this over half a century after the DRGW ran the last revenue freight train over Cumbres.  But both the equipment and the people who restore and maintain the cars are getting older, and it is getting harder and harder.  Hopefully they can find some younger blood to keep the tradition going.  Here are a few more pix: eastbound leaving Chama, westbound at Los Pinos tank, and a glint shot at Dalton westbound.
JBWX



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/25 22:09 by jbwest.

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Photo #3 of the DRGW deserves to be IOTD.

HaKK

Absolutely stunning!!! An "A+" set!
Bob

Wonderful set of photos!!
Bryan

Whoa!  You've posted some excellent images here.  Kudos to you!

Very amazing all the way around.   First off is the fact your recent visit came with someone you first visited the area together with back in 1960 when they were still running freight.   Second is the amazing condition of the line and the equipment being operated so long after the original operation shut down and three would be the quality of your photos.   Thank you for sharing it all with us there on TO.

Great to see JBWEST photos again.

It was a fun trip for two 80 plus year olds, and we met up at Silverton with Olaf Rasmussen making it three old farts for awhile.  Rey andI had no particular plans, figured the weather would dictate our schedule. And early morning sunrise shots were out.  Actually expected to do some train riding, but in the end our chasing instincts took over and that is what we did....but in a low key way, not much real chasing mostly set up and take a nap while we waited.  Thanks for all the kind words.

JBWX  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/25 10:24 by jbwest.

Amazing photos of the ex-Rio Grande narrow gauge.  Thanks for sharing them on this board,

Rich

I'm always seeing pictures from that seocnd location. Where is that? I like it a lot. Great pictures!

Marc L

Great set of images, especially that #2 IOTD.
GK

Congrats on the IOTD for number 2, number 3 is my favorite!

Posted from iPhone

CR6377 Wrote:
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> I'm always seeing pictures from that seocnd
> location. Where is that? I like it a lot. Great
> pictures!

The second pic of the D&S was taken at what most people call the "little high line", just south of Rockwood.

JBWX