Several months prior to this trip, a video was posted on TrainOrders.com that was shot ABOVE Durango. A quick scan of my topo maps provided the likely location of the videographer, and I made plans to try this location myself.

So, Saturday morning I got up early and scouted my location while Michele slept in. I wanted to record the all-green passenger special leaving, but completely missed it. I missed Train 461 as well. I could hear them on my scanner, but wasn't in position to capture it on film (err.... SIM chip). So, I hung around and waited for train 463 to depart.

Please let me know if you find mistakes - RioGrandeDude  @ SmittysHouse.net

Special thanks to D&SNGRR Fireman Jon Walden for some of the information on this page.

Here are a few practice shots while I was waiting for Train 463 to show.

463 makes her appearance

463 heads up the valley towards Animas City,

Hermosa, Rockwood, and Silverton.

Rockwood, CO - MP 469.1

As soon as 463 was out of sight, I went back to our hotel near Carbon Jct and picked up Michele. North of Hermosa, on our way to Rockwood, we noticed a strong smell of burning rubber or plastic. After the 550 overpass the smell faded. We continued on to Rockwood to catch what we thought would be 463, since 461 should have been long gone before we arrived. However, in typical mountain railroading fashion, things happened that were not expected. My first thought was, "Where in the world is the Silver Vista? She was on Train 463 when it left Durango." Then it hit me, "This isn't 463. Must be 461. So... what happened?"

Coach 327 on Train 461 developed a hot box en route. I assume that's what we smelled north of Hermosa. Shortly after we arrived, the crew broke the train and set out the errant car on the north leg of the wye. Then #482 backed down to the remaining cars, coupled on, pumped up the air, and whistled off for Silverton. Brakeman Jarrett Ireland lines the switch above.

Coach 327 has been set

out and the passengers transferred.

Brakeman Mark Smelser gives a highball after completing the required air test.

As soon as 482 (Train 461) cleared the cut,

486 (Train 463) pulled into the yard.

About 10 minutes later Train 463 whistled off. You just never know what you'll get to experience when you're chasing trains in the mountains. I have a tremendous

espect for these narrow gauge railroaders!

Heading north on Hwy 550

We're FINALLY getting to see some nice fall colors.

Silverton!

This view always amazes me.

End of the wye.

This is our favorite place to eat in Silverton: Thee Pitts Again. Best dang BBQ in the whole state! I'm getting hungry just writing this report about it! Naturally, I had to get a picture of our truck with the pink pig-mobile!

After lunch, Michele dropped me off at the depot and took the truck to go shopping

while I went hunting!

Here are Michele's photos from in town.

We finished lunch before 461 arrived.

My photos of 461 are below, and here are Michele's

shots taken several minutes after mine.

While Michele shopped, I set up and waited for 461 to arrive.

K37 #493 is being restored by volunteer D&S railroaders.

Note K28 #478 in the distance. She arrived with the photographer's passenger (all-green) special, but didn't come into town. Instead she backed into the wye to clear the main line for 461 and 463.

461 finally arrives - MP 496.5

461 heads for 12th Street

Extra 478 South on the

tail of the Silverton Wye

MP 496.3

463 arrives 10-15 minutes later.

463 heads for 12th Street

Brakeman Eric Dixon waits to

line the switch for 478

With 461 & 463 clear, Extra 478 takes the main.

Fireman Isaac Randolf

Heading south in search of the perfect photo.

#482 backs Train 461 into

the wye and will come

out as Train 462.

Clever

Next up, a personal inspection of the Silverton Northern Engine House (where 315 is stored) and the newly rebuilt SN track.

Looking north between

the SN main and new

D&S connecting track.

South from same spot

North again from the switch

Looking south at the switch connecting the Silverton Northern main line

and the D&S yard.

The SN Engine House with Casey Jones

out front working on his tan.

West side of Engine House

Looking south from engine house

Engine House Lead Track

I LOVE the stub switch!!

SN Main on right.

Engine House Lead on left.

Looking past the end-of-track down the Silverton Northern right-of-way as #486 backs Train 463 out of town and towards the wye.

Michele came to pick me up and snapped a photo of me (on right) as I took the photo on the left (center).

It is my fervent hope that the SN tracks are someday extended north from Silverton to Howardsville... or even Eureka!

Here Michele and I are exchanging photos of each other. I had no idea she was doing this until I started editing the photos.

Looking south on the SN main towards

the D&S yard and SN engine house.

Looking north from the end-of-track on the SN main towards the likely spot of the

SN / D&S diamond.

The likely spot for the

SN / D&S double diamond.

Looking north along the

SN RoW from the

iamond on 12th St.

One more shot looking south on the SN main. My truck is just past the spot where the junction will be.

Dreaming...

Thee Pitts Again again

Drool...

We stayed at the Grand Imperial last year.

Beware, it's HAUNTED!

Back in town, I "helped" Michele finish her shopping. Then we met and spent a few minutes chatting with Jon Walden (D&S Fireman) and his girlfriend. Jon and I have been trading emails for about 2 years now. He's a great guy and I'm honored to know him.

Heading south back to Durango.

We couldn't get enough of the golden aspens.

There are only two seasons on the Texas Gulf Coast:

Summer and Not-Summer.

If we get a fall season between the two, it's NOTHING like this!!

We stopped at the top of Molas Pass for a quick look around. Simply spectacular!

Back in Durango we got dinner at some fancy restaurant a few blocks

from the Depot. I have yet to have a meal in Durango that is better

than what you can get at Fosters or the Boxcar Cafe in Chama!

After dinner I took Michele to the hotel and went

back to the yard for some coal wood-pellet smoke!

Most of these photos have been converted to gray-scale

 because the colored yard lights greatly detract from the

otherwise perfect ambiance of a 1940's era steam railroad yard.    

MP 451.5

When time permits, many of these photos will take an extended trip through

Photoshop for added special effects. The results will be posted here and here.

Thus ended another perfect day in NARROW GAUGE COUNTRY!