You may notice that some trains have a box car right behind the tender. It has two purposes: 1). they do transport some freight up to Silverton, and 2) there is a program whereby hikers / campers can hitch a ride on the train to the far-out boonies, spend a few days out in the outback hiking and camping, and then some prearranged days later the train will stop on the way back from Silverton and pick them up. Its a fairly frequent occurrence in the summer months, and when a group gets together, they load their gear and food into the box car. The 8:15 train is diesel powered, the 9:00 train is double-headed steamer powered. Both go to Silverton. The 9:45 train is steamer-powered, but with a shorter trip to Cascade Canyon, for those with small children with a shorter attention span, or for those not wanting to spend a full day on the train. The diesel engines, which were originally purchased for miscellaneous yard and work train work, being simpler to operate, also are more economical, and therefore the railroad is able to offer tickets at a $10 per person discount. For a family of 4 (husband, wife and 2 kids) there's a $40 savings. The Cascade Canyon shorter trip does cover most of the scenic areas, including the Animas River Gorge, and the "highline," which are beautiful beyond description.
I'm assuming 473 was taken off because the helper is not needed in that direction. Pretty sure that's standard practice. Needed it to haul the 15 car train up the grade. It's safer not to double-head going down.
Generally, if you leave Durango with a doubleheader, it will continue all the way to Silverton and then head back to Durango light. Since this one didnt' arrive in Silverton, it's safe to assume it was indeed a mechanical problem.
You are Correct. Really, a single "47-X" locomotive can pull 10 cars uphill to Silverton, and so they could be (and have been in the past, were) used to pull the 8:15 train, because that train only runs 10-11 cars. The 9:00 to Silverton normally runs 14 cars, which is all can be fit onto the Silverton turnaround wye. The 9:45 to Cascade Canyon normally runs only 7-8 cars, and where the "47s" are normally used. The D&S originally purchased their 4 Alco diesels from the White Pass and Yukon for yard work and miscellaneous, but then the Marketing / PR dept concluded that they were much less expensive to run and maintain than the steamers, the D&S could offer a $10 per person ticket discount by using them on one train per day, and so the DL-535 (C-truck) Alco diesels are now used on one train per day to Silverton. Really, for a family of 4 on a budget, or for those for whom it didn't matter what was on the front end of a train, saving $40 on train tickets was meaningful. I'm told that the D&S runs two diesels instead of one primarily for their dynamic braking feature, plus their engines are only 1200 hp, so only one by itself has a tough time handling the uphill grades with 10-11 loaded passenger cars.
Correct. Actually, one ALCO (473-476) can make the outbound (uphill) trip on its own once they get past Rockwood. Its just that there are some steeper grades just outside of Durango, primarily at Hermosa, that require two engines. The ALCOs are rated at 28,000 lbs pull at the drawbar, and the Baldwins are rated 36,000 lbs pull at the drawbar. The 493 is rated 37,000 lbs pull at the drawbar.
No, the diesels remain coupled together the whole trip. The diesels only have 1200 hp engines, so they need two to get over the hills on the outbound legs. The only engines that have to separate are if two of the "48x" numbered steamers are running as a consist. They are Baldwins, whereas the "47x" numbered steamers are ALCO-built. If one of each are on the head end of the 9AM train, that's OK too. Its just that two Baldwins (48xs) can't go over the first bridge together.
I have been to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad before, back in July 3rd and 4th 2016. And later in June 2022.
We are some of the lucky ones!!
You may notice that some trains have a box car right behind the tender. It has two purposes: 1). they do transport some freight up to Silverton, and 2) there is a program whereby hikers / campers can hitch a ride on the train to the far-out boonies, spend a few days out in the outback hiking and camping, and then some prearranged days later the train will stop on the way back from Silverton and pick them up. Its a fairly frequent occurrence in the summer months, and when a group gets together, they load their gear and food into the box car.
The 8:15 train is diesel powered, the 9:00 train is double-headed steamer powered. Both go to Silverton. The 9:45 train is steamer-powered, but with a shorter trip to Cascade Canyon, for those with small children with a shorter attention span, or for those not wanting to spend a full day on the train. The diesel engines, which were originally purchased for miscellaneous yard and work train work, being simpler to operate, also are more economical, and therefore the railroad is able to offer tickets at a $10 per person discount. For a family of 4 (husband, wife and 2 kids) there's a $40 savings. The Cascade Canyon shorter trip does cover most of the scenic areas, including the Animas River Gorge, and the "highline," which are beautiful beyond description.
that shot starting at 13:00 min mark... pure gold! - the crew - the view ... trains and engineers are forgotten heros
The Polar Express (2006) Durango & Silverton (Yellow #493) 0:13:00
Nice
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Good video bud! We should go there together with your dad!
I'm assuming 473 was taken off because the helper is not needed in that direction. Pretty sure that's standard practice. Needed it to haul the 15 car train up the grade. It's safer not to double-head going down.
Generally, if you leave Durango with a doubleheader, it will continue all the way to Silverton and then head back to Durango light. Since this one didnt' arrive in Silverton, it's safe to assume it was indeed a mechanical problem.
You are Correct. Really, a single "47-X" locomotive can pull 10 cars uphill to Silverton, and so they could be (and have been in the past, were) used to pull the 8:15 train, because that train only runs 10-11 cars. The 9:00 to Silverton normally runs 14 cars, which is all can be fit onto the Silverton turnaround wye. The 9:45 to Cascade Canyon normally runs only 7-8 cars, and where the "47s" are normally used. The D&S originally purchased their 4 Alco diesels from the White Pass and Yukon for yard work and miscellaneous, but then the Marketing / PR dept concluded that they were much less expensive to run and maintain than the steamers, the D&S could offer a $10 per person ticket discount by using them on one train per day, and so the DL-535 (C-truck) Alco diesels are now used on one train per day to Silverton. Really, for a family of 4 on a budget, or for those for whom it didn't matter what was on the front end of a train, saving $40 on train tickets was meaningful. I'm told that the D&S runs two diesels instead of one primarily for their dynamic braking feature, plus their engines are only 1200 hp, so only one by itself has a tough time handling the uphill grades with 10-11 loaded passenger cars.
Correct. Actually, one ALCO (473-476) can make the outbound (uphill) trip on its own once they get past Rockwood. Its just that there are some steeper grades just outside of Durango, primarily at Hermosa, that require two engines. The ALCOs are rated at 28,000 lbs pull at the drawbar, and the Baldwins are rated 36,000 lbs pull at the drawbar. The 493 is rated 37,000 lbs pull at the drawbar.
Epic
Awesome video! I rode on the steam train to Silverton and back 4 days after you recorded this!
HÜÜÜÜÜÜ HÜÜ !.... ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF ÇIF !....
Do the diesels have to separate to go over that one trestle just like the steamers do or are they under the weight limit?
No, the diesels remain coupled together the whole trip. The diesels only have 1200 hp engines, so they need two to get over the hills on the outbound legs. The only engines that have to separate are if two of the "48x" numbered steamers are running as a consist. They are Baldwins, whereas the "47x" numbered steamers are ALCO-built. If one of each are on the head end of the 9AM train, that's OK too. Its just that two Baldwins (48xs) can't go over the first bridge together.