Day 9 Tuesday May 14: Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Train

Engine 493 on the tracks at Silverton.

Engine 480 is a Baldwin K-36 class,2-8-2, built in 1925 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia PA.  Weighing 143 tons fully loaded with water and coal they can pull with 36,000 pound of tractive effort,

translating to @ 1,200 horsepower.

 

Engine 480 lets off steam in Silverton.

Water Stop

Engine 473 is an Alco K-28 class,2-8-2, built in 1923 by the American Locomotive Works of Schenectady NY. Weighing 127 tons they can pull with 28,000 pound of tractive effort, translating to @ 900 horsepower. Engine 473 is one of the last 3 survivors of this class,

all owned and operated by the DSNGRR.

Although the engines are impressive, they obviously cannot get anywhere without a dedicated and talented crew. Here are the ones we met:

Engineer Mike Nichols, Engine # 473, who graciously signed our copy of the book "America's Railroad, The Official Guidebook", a concise history of  the DSNGRR. 

Maintenance on the engine at Silverton before the return trip to Durango. Engineer Mike checks all the work very thoroughly.

 

Brakeman Donald Urchlieta graciously poses during the break at Silverton.

Dot was our wonderful hostess on the Cinco Animas car. She kept us amply supplied with snacks and beverages as well as entertaining us with many fine railroad store and facts.

Engine 480 pulls into the station at Durango

after a hard day on the tracks.