Silverton's 4 Railroads

Silverton Magazine - Silverton, Colorado
Railroads	Burke's Custom Tours for Photographers & Artists	Silverton Magazine Home Page

Story by Kathryn R. Burke for San Juan Publishing
©San Juan Publishing Group, Inc, All rights reserved.

THE CONDUCTOR CALLS: "All Aboard!" and the train pulls out beneath a blossoming plume of steam. We clatter through town, then cross the Animas River, picking up speed. Beyond Hermosa, the engine works hard, sending streams of steam above the gold cars. Soon we overlook picturesque Shalona Lake on our way to the next stop—Rockwood, where guests from neighboring resorts can board the train. Excitement builds as we steam through a steep rock cut, then emerge on the world-famous "Highline," a shelf above the Animas River and one of the most breathtaking parts of the trip. Another mile and we pass the Tacoma Power Plant, built in 1905 and still in use today.

Next stop: Tank Creek to take on water—a great photo opportunity. The train may also stop at Tall Timbers Resort—accessible only by rail or helicopter—to pick up or drop off passengers.

The Cascade Wye is an especially picturesque spot. Crossing the Animas again, we begin to see the razor-sharp peaks of the Needle Mountains poking more than 14,000 feet into the sky. At this point,we are nineteen miles from Silverton. A suspension bridge on the right leads backpackers into the Weminuche Wilderness. Not us though, we're on the ride all the way.

Less than a mile further is another five-minute water stop. This one, at the newly restored wooden Needleton Tank, is another great photo opportunity. After drinking deeply, the locomotive builds up a heavy head of steam for the grade ahead, the steepest of the entire run. Through the final six miles to Silverton, the canyon becomes progressively sharper and narrower.

Then we cross the bridge and steam into Silverton for lunch and shoppping. The return trip is just as pretty, different, but equally arresting. Since we're on the parlor car, we enjoy cocktails on the ride home, and take turns on the back platform, where, camera in hand, we record our lovely journey.

Photographs
All photographs © Kathryn R. Burke, taken on a memorable, annula October first ride aboard the parlor car of the Duarango Silverton Narrow Bauge Silverton Train. Bottoms up!

The Silverton Magazine. Copyright 2000-2010
Published by San Juan Publishing Group, Inc., Colorado
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