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| Durango train station |
What a fabulous day! The train from Durango to Silverton has been on my bucket list for years! The weather is always a challenge but when you are going from Durango at 6000 ft elevation to Silverton at 9000 ft elevation, anything can happen. And it did! I opted for an enclosed car and for the trip up and back on the train. It takes 3 1/2 hours each way but I could not imagine sitting on a bus for half the trip. Turns out they had to cancel the bus rides up and back because of snow. And did we get it. Rain, snow, sleet, hail and ..... sunshine. Only think missing, I thing was a tornado warning.
And yes, there is a Starbucks in Durango. Stopped there before boarding the train. The car I was on also had some special coffee with Baileys and some other good stuff! Felt like first class!
The scenery going up the mountain is absolutely spectacular. There is no way to show it in the pictures but it was worth the try. The train runs along the side of the mountain with a sheer cliff down to the Animas River below. The history video I watched said that the builder of the railroad did not take any pictures of the construction process because he was afraid his investors in the East would pull their money if they knew how ridiculously crazy it was. The tracks are blasted out of solid granite. Quite amazing.
I was on one of the last cars on the train and could see this as we rounded a curve. It sort of shows the sheer sides up and down.
After 3 and a half hours, two stops to fill the steam water tank and much chugging, we arrived in Silverton, CO. It was starting to snow but was not very cold, maybe mid 40's. The streets are mostly dirt and mud and potholes. Made me think of what it must have been like in the 1880's when all this started.
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| Train station in Silverton |
We were only there for an hour or so. Just enough time to get a bite to eat at the Pickle Barrel Cafe and to wander the few streets in town and check out all the tourist stuff. One of the couples on the train took the train up and had a room in an old hotel there for the night then were taking the train back down the next day. Brilliant!
Here we are with the snow falling waiting to board the train back to Durango. I was able to pick up some very tasty fudge at the store right at the train station and it went well with the spiked coffee on the train coming back. This was such an fun day, even with the weather.
At the train station, there is this bronze sculpture of three little foals. It made me think of my cousin, Sallie Hulbirt Miller. She loves horses and, I think, most all animals. This picture is for Sallie.
Today is Day 8 of the Epic Road Trip. I will be heading first to Mesa Verde to see the pueblo's carved into the cliffs, then to Four Corners and eventually Bluff Utah to dine at the famous (well sort of famous) Cottonwood Steak House.
Westward ho!!!
And yes, there is a Starbucks in Durango. Stopped there before boarding the train. The car I was on also had some special coffee with Baileys and some other good stuff! Felt like first class!
Here we are with the snow falling waiting to board the train back to Durango. I was able to pick up some very tasty fudge at the store right at the train station and it went well with the spiked coffee on the train coming back. This was such an fun day, even with the weather. 
At the train station, there is this bronze sculpture of three little foals. It made me think of my cousin, Sallie Hulbirt Miller. She loves horses and, I think, most all animals. This picture is for Sallie.
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