Durango in La Plata County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Denver & Rio Grande Railway

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2024

1. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway Marker

Inscription. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway was founded in 1870. Under General William Jackson Palmer this railway developed an extensive narrow gauge network throughout Colorado. Railroad lines brought growth and prosperity to the West's wide-open spaces and mountainous terrain. Choosing narrow gauge track (3 feet between rails) over standard gauge (4 ft. 8½ in. between rails) Palmer was able to quickly lay track in sharp curves through the mountains. The construction of the line for the 45-mile stretch from Durango to Silverton began in the fall of 1881. Construction crews reached Silverton in July of 1882, having completed the line in just 9 months!

80 years later, in 1962, the railroad unsuccessfully petitioned the PUC to abandon the line. Charles E. Bradshaw, Jr. bought the railroad from the D&RG in 1981, and changed the name to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Bradshaw made necessary improvements to the track and equipment and increased service. In 1997, Bradshaw sold the D&SNG to First American Railways, Inc.

In 1998, American Heritage Railway owners Carol & Al Harper purchased the line and are the current owners.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

The Harpers guard the cultural heritage of this area by their thoughtful stewardship of the railway that put Durango on the map.

Dedicated June 19, 2010
Al Packer Chapter 100 -
Colorado E Clampus Vitus -
Calendar Year 6015

Erected 2010 by Al Packer Chapter 100, Colorado E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 37° 16.096′ N, 107° 52.936′ W. Marker is in Durango, Colorado, in La Plata County. It can be reached from Main Avenue just south of East 5th Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is mounted at eye-level on the left side of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 479 Main Avenue, Durango CO 81301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2024

2. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway Marker

The marker is mounted on the left side of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum entrance.

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Trails to Rails (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Trails to Rails (within shouting distance of this marker); Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bradshaw Circle (about 400 feet away); Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (about 600 feet away); Main St., Durango circa 1890 (about 800 feet away); Main Avenue/Strater Hotel circa 1891 (approx. ¼ mile away); The Rochester Hotel (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durango.

Also see . . .
1. Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

The Denver & Rio Grande Railway was incorporated on October 27, 1870, by General William Jackson Palmer and a board of four directors. It was originally announced that the new 3 ft railroad would proceed south from Denver and travel an estimated 875 miles south to El Paso via Pueblo, westward along the Arkansas River, and continue southward through the San Luis Valley of Colorado toward
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2024

3. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
The D&SNG Museum is located about 100 meters south of the historic Durango Railroad Depot.
the Rio Grande. At its height, in 1889, the D&RGW had the largest narrow-gauge railroad network in North America with 1,861 miles of track interconnecting the states of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

(Submitted on August 4, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

The D&SNG, is a narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally-designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The route was originally opened in 1882 by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) to transport silver and gold ore mined from the San Juan Mountains. The line from Durango to Silverton has run continuously since 1881, although it is now a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers, and is one of the few places in the U.S. which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives. The railroad has a total of nine narrow-gauge steam locomotives (eight of which are operational).
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2024

4. Historic Durango Railroad Depot
The D&SNG Museum and the Denver & Rio Grande Railway marker are about 100 meters south of here.
Some rolling-stock dates back to the 1880s. Trains operate from Durango to the Cascade Wye in the winter months and Durango–Silverton during the summer months. The Durango depot was built in January 1882 and has been preserved in its original form.

(Submitted on August 4, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 135 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 4, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.