First Day of Train Brought 495 Passengers

Group of western and Victorian characters pose with steam engine 476. Photo credit Misty French

Group of western and Victorian characters pose with steam engine 476. Photo credit Misty French

Richard Wilcox and “Miss Kitty” pose with Al Harper, the owner of the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Train, on the first day of the season. Photo credit Ray Dileo

Richard Wilcox and “Miss Kitty” pose with Al Harper, the owner of the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Train, on the first day of the season. Photo credit Ray Dileo

The famous Silverton Brass Band plays on the opening day of the DSNGRR train. Photo credit Ray Dileo

The famous Silverton Brass Band plays on the opening day of the DSNGRR train. Photo credit Ray Dileo

Silverton Mayor Dayna Kranker and an ol’ Miner greet the DSNGRR train on opening day. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

Silverton Mayor Dayna Kranker and an ol’ Miner greet the DSNGRR train on opening day. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

A large group of Silverton locals came to the first train. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

A large group of Silverton locals came to the first train. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

Durango folks rode the train up in elegant Victorian dresses. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

Durango folks rode the train up in elegant Victorian dresses. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

Miss Kitty poses with a young lady here visiting her grandparents, who live in town. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

Miss Kitty poses with a young lady here visiting her grandparents, who live in town. Photo credit DeAnne Gallegos

The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad started the summer season of 2025 with two steam engine trains on Saturday, May 3rd, which was also the birthday of the narrow- gauge rail system of the San Juans founder, Otto Mears. Otto Mears was born on May 3rd, 1840, in Russia, and died at the ripe old age of ninety-one on June 24th, 1931, in Pasadena, California. The first train th...

Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription.