Spectacular Train Ride

Yesterday we had a day filled with a little adventure and a lot of spectacular scenery. We boarded the train in Durango at 9:30 AM and did not return until after 10:00 PM.  This was a steam train that went to Silverton, a old mining town that is at 9600 ft.  It is a 3 1/2 hour ride to get there and you had two hours to walk around and have lunch then back on the train for your trip back to Durango. Most of the ride is through unspoiled wilderness that follows Animas River.









 We used to love to raft down the Deschuttes, but looking at this water I cannot imagine anyone having enough courage to face these rapids. They went on for miles and must have been class 4s and 5s.

Backpacker sitting between the track and a deep canyon

Colorado would be a perfect place to live if you were in your 20's and knew no fear, we have seen a lot of mountain biking and we came across a back packer way up in the mountains. But I am content with a train ride and maybe a little hiking.

Just like Pettycoat Junction, this is where we filled up with water

The train stopped a couple of times to pick up rafters and to let them off, it also stopped to load up on water.  I was surprised that that a steam train would be so smelly and we were told to wear glasses for protection against hot embers. It was such of a fabulous ride and a wonderful experience of going back in time to the 1800's.This train was completed in 1885 to bring out the silver.




Now days Silverton only business is tourist's, restaurants and gift shops.
It looked like other then the icecream parlor these kids selling rocks were making the most sales.

Playing Red-Light-Green-Light

When they had no customers they played red light - green light.  I remember playing that when I was little,This little town is still living in the past, I am sure our grand-kids have never played that game.

Rock Sellers

Main Street Silverton

In Silverton

Old Silver Mine





Our mini adventure started on our way home, we were not far down the tracks and we stopped.  All the train crew were out looking down the tracks.  The train that left 1/2 hour ahead of us had lost its brakes but did come to a safe stop.  We could not get around and after much discussion it was decided the we would push it to the side-rail. It could not be fixed and you could tell from body language between the two trains engineers and conductors  that they were not in agreement of how it should be handled.  I don't know who won the argument, but they disconnected their engine and we hooked up the cars and we all came down the hill very very slowly.  What should have been a 3 1/2 hour train ride down the mountain ended up being 6 hour ride.
I am sure part of the discussion was about the weight of the two trains together if the brakes would hold.

He was waving his hand in disgust

 

getting past the stranded train

We were really long

  By the time we got back to the station in was dark and we needed to drive 36 miles to our RV Park on a two lane road.

Just a couple miles out of town they have a huge lighted sign that is flashing saying watch for elk and deer.  Of course the speed limit is 65 and we are not familiar with the road and worried about hitting something and then having cars behind us (probably wishing we would go the speed limit)  was a very stressful drive.  We usually do not venture out at night in unfamiliar territory.
When we got home we were two grumpy OLD GOATS.