September 8, 2009
We’ve visited Silverton several times over the years. Our first visit was 1986, arriving with the kids by a late 1800s era train. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad is a trip worth taking once in your life and we’ve done it twice.
One of thing I wanted to do on this visit was to get some pictures of one of the trains as it comes out of the mountains. I had taken photos of it before, but it was with a film camera that had developed a light leak — which we didn’t find out until after the images were developed, weeks later.
We got to the spot I wanted to take the pictures from early — and, then, a light rain started. Though we had picnic supplies with us, we decided to get out of the rain and go get a burger.
While I didn’t get the shots I wanted, I did get quite a few good images of two different trains.
Another place we’ve been to several times is Animas Forks, an old ghost town several miles from Silverton on a mountain road. The further you go on the road, the worse it gets. Though we’ve gone a lot further on these roads in the past, our little SUV isn’t built to take anything much worse than the road to Animas Forks. The roads are popular for four-wheel-drive, ATV (all terrain vehicle) and dirt bike enthusiasts.
Photos:
(click on any of the following photos to view a larger image.)
Silverton RV Park
Silverton
Aerial trams transported more than ore.
Animas Forks
Animas River
Boarding house
..
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On the way to Silverton
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Aerial ore tram
Goldeneye
Animas Forks
Boarding house
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{ 11 comments }
These photos look like they could have been taken any time in the last 50 or so years. I envy you your travels and the sights you’ve seen. One day, soon…
.-= XUP´s last blog ..The Essential Nerd =-.
This is a lovely post and takes me back to my younger days of movies and novels of the wild west and cow boys and trains and gun fights.
The narrow gauge railway is still operational in India in a few places as are some Meter gauge railways too. Progress is converting the meter gauge to the broad gauge but so far the narrow gauge has been more or less left intact. I shall post about them soon. T
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Older Men, Take Heart. Older Women, Take The Advise. =-.
I love old, deserted, falling-apart houses. They are spooky and magnificent at the same time.
XUP – I agree, especially since the first time we visited was 23 years ago and these places have changed little in that period.
Ramana – Thanks. The movies and novels were a little closer to reality for me. The town I lived in until I was 15 was where Buffalo Bill made his home for many years and where he originated his Wild West Show. The Oregon Trail and the Pony Express route ran a little south of town.
vered – the sad thing about these houses and buildings is that they are going to fade away to nothing in a few more decades. The climate is generally dry, which is good for preservation, but the winter weather is harsh and destructive, and over time will wear these structures down.
Hi Mike – This looks awesome. I’ve heard of Bodie but this is the first time I read about Animas Forks. I will need to read up more on ghost towns in America. It’s something we don’t have over here, so far as I’m aware.
What a lovely post Mike. I envy you. It looks like a wonderful place to visit.
Hubby and I went on the DSNGR in 1996!! We were at the narrow gauge Railroading Convention and it seemed like the perfect offshoot. I loved the old-time player piano in the Silverton Saloon.
Durango is so cute too. Did you stay at the, oh, what’s that old hotel? The Slader? Slater? Something starting with an S.
Gosh, those old aerial trams look frightfully non-OSHA compliant!
And looks like the old “boarding” house needs a few more boards??
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Rose DesRochers: Just how Great IS She? =-.
“model” railroading convention that is, my hubby is into that.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Rose DesRochers: Just how Great IS She? =-.
Cath – There are all sorts of ghost towns in America that most people probably haven’t heard of. Many places died when the boom times went away for whatever commodity played out or lost it luster. Others died when local small farms were overwhelmed by the advance of technology and the evolution of farming into big business.
Rose – Thanks. Just wish we could have stayed longer.
Jannie – No. We stayed in our motorhome which was parked down by Ouray, this time. Other times we stayed in our small travel trailer down in the Durango area.
Nice photos, Dad. I’ll always remember our trips to Durango and Silverton.
Thanks, Mel. Wish y’all could have been along for part of it.
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