Desert_Captain
Jul 22, 2023Explorer III
Durango-Silverton RR...
My bride and I just returned from a 4 day 3 night trip to Durango Colorado to celebrate our 53 anniversary. We left the Class C at home and made the 371 mile run from our home in Payson AZ in our Honda Ridgeline. to the General Palmer Hotel in downtown Durango, conveniently located right next to the train station.
The rail line runs 45 miles along the banks of the Animas River between Silverton and Durango and is one of the most spectacular train rides on the planet. Trust me, you need to add this trip to your bucket list if you have not already done so. You can travel round trip on the train from Durango or opt to take a nice Motor coach either up or back. We elected to ride the coach up and the train back which we thoroughly enjoyed.
We have been to Durango and Silverton half a dozen times in our Class C or on my motorcycle over the last ten years but never got around to taking ther train... my bad. The ride up was awesome in that for the first time I was able to enjoy the ride north out of Durango relaxing and taking in all of the scenery one dare not gawk at driving the very challenging highway 550. This trip takes you over Coal Bank and Molas passes both over 10,000'.
The coach ride is a little less than 2 hours and the train up or back is 3.5 hours. Most folks book this trip months in advance and I should have but... with a little luck we got the two best seats on the train at the rear of the Presidential/First Class Animas car which only accommodates 16 passengers and is always the last car in the train giving us unlimited, unrestricted views out the rear of the train.
Summer temps in the mid 90's in Durango gave way to mid 70's by the time we reached Silverton which sits at 9,315'. Arriving at 1115 we had a few hours to wander Silverton enjoying shopping dining and a beverage or two.
Here are a few pics from the trip:
:B
The rail line runs 45 miles along the banks of the Animas River between Silverton and Durango and is one of the most spectacular train rides on the planet. Trust me, you need to add this trip to your bucket list if you have not already done so. You can travel round trip on the train from Durango or opt to take a nice Motor coach either up or back. We elected to ride the coach up and the train back which we thoroughly enjoyed.
We have been to Durango and Silverton half a dozen times in our Class C or on my motorcycle over the last ten years but never got around to taking ther train... my bad. The ride up was awesome in that for the first time I was able to enjoy the ride north out of Durango relaxing and taking in all of the scenery one dare not gawk at driving the very challenging highway 550. This trip takes you over Coal Bank and Molas passes both over 10,000'.
The coach ride is a little less than 2 hours and the train up or back is 3.5 hours. Most folks book this trip months in advance and I should have but... with a little luck we got the two best seats on the train at the rear of the Presidential/First Class Animas car which only accommodates 16 passengers and is always the last car in the train giving us unlimited, unrestricted views out the rear of the train.
Summer temps in the mid 90's in Durango gave way to mid 70's by the time we reached Silverton which sits at 9,315'. Arriving at 1115 we had a few hours to wander Silverton enjoying shopping dining and a beverage or two.
Here are a few pics from the trip:
:B