Perhaps the ultiomate narrow gauge rail experience is traveling the Durango & Silverton Railroad. The railroad runs along the formeer Denver and Rio Grande line between Durangoand Silverton, Colorado, a distance of about 45 miles. The D&RG billed itself as "The Scenic Line of the World." The description is hard to dispute. The line runs along the Animas River at times climbing high above the river valley. The climb from Durango to Silverton is an incredible 2780 feet with grades as large as 2.5 percent.It is an incredible trip and the scenery is breath taking. At times, the curves are so sharp that I was able to take full side-view photos of the engine from our coach in the middle of the train.

Image	Description
	Durango depot
	Open-side coach in the Durango Yard
	Parlor coach #631
	Standard coach #291, "King Mine"
	Concession car #500
	Standard coach #319, "Needleton"
	Train awaits the engine to begin the trip to Silverton
	Engine 481 arrives and we are underway
	Beginning the climb up the 6.5-mile Hermosa Hill grade
	Heading North on the high-line
	Arriving at Silverton
	Train begins backing to the Silverton Wye to clear the tracks for the next train
	Second train arrives in Silverton powered by engine #482
	After the second train clears the tracks, our train backs into Silverton for the return trip to Durango
	Heading toward the high-line on the return trip
	Following the Animas River
	Some sad cars deteriorating along the mainline
	Entering the rock cut on the high-line
	On a sharp curve downgrade to Durango