It's not the Silverton Mixed of yore on The Denver and Rio Grande Western... But, it's working!
It’s late August of 2023 and we’re back in Durango to catch a working mixed train on the Durango and Silverton. Normally, when we see a mixed train along these rails it's only for the sole benefit of the photographers.
This modern Silverton Mixed was run as part of the pre-convention activities for the 43rd Annual Narrow Gauge Convention being held in Denver this year. In addition to Durango’s production of this trip, the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec would run two days of trips out of Antonito featuring its 1883 built T-12, number 168, and the Durango Railroad Historical Society’s 1895 built C-17 number 315.
We depart Durango right on time at 7:30 in the morning, which on the modern Durango and Silverton is the departure slot for the long-gone “San Juan Express’ which was ran from the 80s through the early 2000s.
We follow the train up the valley from Durango to Rockwood, after catching it crossing Main Avenue, we jump ahead to Oxbow Park located alongside Animas View Drive
Deep in the Hermosa Valley, we’re still in the Shadows as we’re at the River Bend Ranch just north of Home Ranch Siding
Just before Hermosa, the train crosses a county road while the Hermosa Cliffs, carved by glaciers loom above.
Climbing the 2 and-and-a-half percent Hermosa Hill, the 473 steams up the hill towards Rockwood
At Rockwood, we hop aboard and head into the canyon.
Just past the rockwood, we’re perched on the cliff of the famed Horseshoe Curve
Back on the train, we’ll stay on board as we make our way to Silverton. We’re gonna stay on board from here to Silverton as we’re less than forty-five minutes ahead of Train 461, the First Silverton Train, which is running behind us behind K-36 #482.
We’ve pulled into Silverton, turned on the wye, and backed into the traditional loading area at the Corner of 12th and Blair. Conductor Nick Battello is performing the requisite break check before we make our way back to Durango.
After train 461 backs to the wye, we’re treated to the arrival of train 463, led by the 480.
After the crowds have dispersed, we’re off southbound and quickly slink out of town.
Today, when we see a mixed train along these rails it's only for the sole benefit of the photographers. Normally these photo trains keep their consists intact during the entire run. But today, we’ll set out the two fish belly flat cars at Elk Park on the way back to Durango. The flats are loaded with ties for a replacement project near there. Conductor Nick Batello is seen here along with Brakeman Travis setting out the cars on the south leg of the wye.
The weather in the Rockies can change on a dime in the Silvery San Juans, and today is no different. We’re treated to some much-needed rain this afternoon as we coast through Needleton.
We stop for one more runby at Goblin Fire, where the Needle Mountains pierce the sky
We'll leave Durango Yard Limits and no need to look out for that distant signal, there's no signals on this part of the Rio Grande! There's no diesels in this shot, so no V-12 blocks here, I'm really there so this ain't no Virtual Railfan, but you can stay on your couch.