RV Travels, Railroads, Water & Mining - Durango, CO
03-20-2015
Author: Blog Editor in Roadrunner History Buff
Durango, Colorado, is now my base camp for excursions into the mountains, prairies, canyons and the desert. I have lived here for about four years now and am gradually learning some things about its history. I have always had a great interest in Colorado history. My maternal grandparents migrated from Wales and were hard rock miners in the mountains west of Denver. I also have an interest in the rail roads that served these mining districts. My father worked for the Denver Rio Grande and Union Pacific Rail Roads in the marketing departments.
The town was organized in September 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) to serve the San Juan mining district. The city is named after Durango, Mexico, which was named after Durango Spain. The word Durango originates from the Basque word "urango" meaning "water town". (1)
In the mining days, ore was brought from Silverton to Durango to be smelted. Supplies were in turn taken to the mining towns. An individual known as the “Pathfinder of the San Juans”, Otto Mears, is given much credit for finding routes through the mountains for toll roads and later railroads. He became a rail road baron after being a penniless immigrant from Russia. He started the Silverton Railroad Company in 1887 and built tracks from Silverton to Red Mountain Town along a toll road that he had previously built. In years 1890 and 1891, Mears built another railroad from Ridgeway to Telluride, Delores and Durango. It was called the Rio Grande Southern. (2)
All the old smelters are gone but any local can tell you where they were located. Gradually, some nice Victorian Homes, churches and schools were built as the town matured.
Modern day Durango, Colorado thrives on RV Services and attractions. One of the major attractions is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The station is right at the end of Main Street and numerous businesses thrive from the passengers who ride the train to Silverton. From hot dogs to first class restaurants, tee shirt stores to swank clothing boutiques, coffee, gift, art, sport shops, all an easy walk or drive from the train station.
It is the rail and the river (the Animas) that runs thru it, plus the influence of the college and its students that provides the fabric for this community. But it was the railroad that started it all.
The Web Site of the Durango & Silverton Railroad, is says it best:
“The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. The Animas River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the entire western United States. The route along the Animas, which begins high in the San Juan Mountains and ends in a confluence with the San Juan River in New Mexico, boasts some of Colorado's most striking canyon scenery. Throughout the season, the river will rise from around 400 c.f.s (cubic feet per second) in April, to over 6,000 c.f.s at peak snow melt runoff in June, and will mellow out again in September.
The train will cross the river five times on its journey to Silverton, offering spectacular views from both sides of the train. We will pass fertile farmlands, old stagecoach roads, the breathtaking "Highline", the remote Tacoma Power Plant, old mining camps, and be in the shadow of peaks reaching over 14,000 feet, often with year-round snow!”
The town was organized in September 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) to serve the San Juan mining district. The city is named after Durango, Mexico, which was named after Durango Spain. The word Durango originates from the Basque word "urango" meaning "water town". (1)
In the mining days, ore was brought from Silverton to Durango to be smelted. Supplies were in turn taken to the mining towns. An individual known as the “Pathfinder of the San Juans”, Otto Mears, is given much credit for finding routes through the mountains for toll roads and later railroads. He became a rail road baron after being a penniless immigrant from Russia. He started the Silverton Railroad Company in 1887 and built tracks from Silverton to Red Mountain Town along a toll road that he had previously built. In years 1890 and 1891, Mears built another railroad from Ridgeway to Telluride, Delores and Durango. It was called the Rio Grande Southern. (2)
Otto Mears (Courtesy of Denver Post Library) |
All the old smelters are gone but any local can tell you where they were located. Gradually, some nice Victorian Homes, churches and schools were built as the town matured.
Modern day Durango, Colorado thrives on RV Services and attractions. One of the major attractions is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The station is right at the end of Main Street and numerous businesses thrive from the passengers who ride the train to Silverton. From hot dogs to first class restaurants, tee shirt stores to swank clothing boutiques, coffee, gift, art, sport shops, all an easy walk or drive from the train station.
It is the rail and the river (the Animas) that runs thru it, plus the influence of the college and its students that provides the fabric for this community. But it was the railroad that started it all.
| Silverton Station |
 |
The Web Site of the Durango & Silverton Railroad, is says it best:
“The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. The Animas River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the entire western United States. The route along the Animas, which begins high in the San Juan Mountains and ends in a confluence with the San Juan River in New Mexico, boasts some of Colorado's most striking canyon scenery. Throughout the season, the river will rise from around 400 c.f.s (cubic feet per second) in April, to over 6,000 c.f.s at peak snow melt runoff in June, and will mellow out again in September.
The train will cross the river five times on its journey to Silverton, offering spectacular views from both sides of the train. We will pass fertile farmlands, old stagecoach roads, the breathtaking "Highline", the remote Tacoma Power Plant, old mining camps, and be in the shadow of peaks reaching over 14,000 feet, often with year-round snow!”
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