Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Durango-Silverton train’s passenger car swayed gently from side to side. I adjusted the notebook on my lap and continued to write.

Bright sunshine slanted through the windows on the right side of the railroad car where I sat. A puff of smoke from the train’s engine blew through the open window. The acrid smell quickly dissipated.

“What are you writing?” The couple across the aisle asked.

“A travel blog,” I said.

News of my endeavor spread among the surrounding passengers. Several of them engaged me in conversation regarding this blog as I moved about to stretch my legs.

Another couple stated they were traveling around the country. She used a blog to keep friends and family informed of their current status. “I don’t post all the time, just when it works.”

While we conversed, I held onto an overhead bar and planted my feet wide so it was easier to keep my balance on the moving train. “I haven’t been able to post much lately because of some problems I’ve had with my photo library. When I return home, I’ll be online with a technician to fix it. Hopefully I’ll be able to retrieve my photos from my old backup system.”

A photography enthusiast seated in front of where I stood turned around and joined the conversation. We all compared our frustrations with computer issues and discussed backup plans. Then we lapsed into a comfortable silence as we viewed the scenery.

The train rounded a bend. From there it was possible to see the train’s engine and the cars ahead.

“Got it!” The photographer said.

“You got that shot?” I asked.

“Yep. The smokestack was even puffing when I took it.”

“Oh, wow! That’s the one picture I wanted most.”

“Well, I can share the photo with you. I have an account on flickr.”

Thanks to that conversation, Jim Evans’ photograph of the Durango-Silverton is featured above. If we had not talked I would not have it to share with you. You can visit Jim’s flickr account to view other photographs he took of the trip: https://www.flickr.com/photos/goofyjim/

Travel Benefits of a Narrow Gauge Railroad
Train travel is quite conducive to conversation,
especially on this 45.4 mile train route both ways.
Other benefits of travel via this older train include:
-Scenery you’ll never view from the highway
-Train route follows the Animas River
(one of the last free-flowing rivers in the western US)
-Occasional sightings of wildlife
-Travel the way it used to be

Travel Light Humor
If you take the Durango-Silverton Train, you’ll be on this train for a few hours. You may as well get acquainted. If you’re not a people person, don’t worry. You can always stare out the windows. No one will bother you.

However, when you walk to your car’s restroom or perhaps to visit the snack bar in another railroad car, do be careful. This old train has a constant rocking motion. It also jerks around occasionally when you least expect it. You never know who’s lap you may land in. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not get acquainted that way.

Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad route information:
http://www.durangotrain.com/ride-us/-route#.W848nC-ZM8Z

Join me next time for more about the Durango-Silverton trip.

Until then . . . Travel Light,
SuZan