Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Durango, Colorado · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesFreeSilverton trains May to early November; Cascade Canyon winter trains late November to early May

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs historic steam and diesel trains on the 1882 Denver & Rio Grande line through the Animas River canyon, a National Historic Landmark, and shares its story in a free museum built into the Durango roundhouse.

  • Running since 1882
  • National Historic Landmark
  • 45-mile run to Silverton
  • Free museum in the roundhouse
  • Original 1882 Durango depot
  • Trains year round

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at a glance

Hours
Train times vary by season. Museum: summer daily from early morning to 7 pm; winter Wednesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm plus train days
Admission
Museum free; train fares vary by excursion and class of service
Train rides
Silverton round trip May 2 to November 1, 2026; Cascade Canyon Winter Train late November to early May; locomotive cab rides by phone
Seasonal events
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Galloping Goose #5 Excursions, Narrow Gauge Day, Shamrock Express, Ragtime Train, Snowdown, Balloon Rally Train, Cowboy Poetry Train, Romance on the Rails, Fall Photo: The Animas Canyon after Dark
Plan for
About 9.25 hours for the Silverton round trip; 1 hour or so for the museum
Best for
Families with patient riders, rail fans and photographers
Best ages
Ages 5 and up for the Silverton trip; all ages for the museum
Parking
Paid parking; buy a parking ticket with your train tickets or at the lot on the morning of your ride

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Durango.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Built for silver, saved by the view

Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880, and the railroad arrived in town on August 5, 1881. Work on the line to Silverton began that fall. Crews of at least 500 laborers, mostly Chinese and Irish immigrants paid $2.25 a day, blasted a narrow shelf into the granite walls of the Animas Canyon, and the 45-mile stretch was finished in about nine months. Trains reached Silverton in July 1882 and began hauling silver and gold ore out of the San Juan Mountains, along with passengers who soon decided the scenery was the real treasure.

Mining slowed after the Panic of 1893, and trucks and highways chipped away at freight. Tourism kept the branch alive. Hollywood filmed along the line in the late 1940s, and on June 24, 1947 the Rio Grande launched a summer train called The Silverton, later painting a locomotive and coaches yellow to promote it. When the railroad tried to abandon the branch in the 1960s, regulators refused because so many people were riding.

In 1981 Charles Bradshaw Jr. of Florida bought the 45-mile line with its structures and rolling stock and formed the D&SNG. His crews restored larger K-36 and K-37 locomotives, brought 1880s coaches back to service and added more trains. When the original 1881 roundhouse burned in the winter of 1989, all six locomotives inside were damaged but eventually restored, and a new roundhouse rose on the same site with a facade of salvaged brick. Today the railroad is part of American Heritage Railways, and the shop crews who keep century-old engines running use skills few people still have.

The Animas Canyon by rail, and a roundhouse full of history

Trains leave the Durango Depot at 479 Main Avenue, a building from January 1882 that has been kept in its original form. In summer the Scenic Round Trip Silverton Train follows the Animas River 45 miles each way, past Horseshoe Curve, across the High Bridge and along the High Line ledge above the gorge, with a two-hour layover in Silverton. Beyond Rockwood Station there are no roads at all, only designated wilderness. From late November to early May the Cascade Canyon Winter Train runs 26 miles into the San Juan National Forest to the wye at Cascade Station. You choose from four classes of service: Standard, Deluxe, First Class and Presidential.

Back in Durango, the D&SNGRR Museum sits at the back of the rail yard in eight stalls of the 15-stall roundhouse. Its 12,000 square feet hold artifacts donated by local families and retired railroad workers, much of it from the D&RGW, and exhibits are added often. Admission is free, and the staff know both the history and today's operations.

Don’t miss

  1. The D&SNGRR MuseumA free, 12,000-square-foot museum inside working roundhouse stalls, with D&RGW artifacts donated by railroad families and old employees.
  2. The High LineThe ledge blasted into the canyon wall in 1881 and 1882, where the train rides high above the Animas River Gorge.
  3. The Durango DepotBuilt in January 1882 and preserved in its original form, it is the starting point for every trip.
  4. K-36 and K-37 steam locomotivesBig Rio Grande engines that never reached Silverton until the D&SNG improved bridges and track in the 1980s.
  5. Locomotive Cab RidesA chance to ride with the engineer and fireman, booked by phone only at (970) 385-8875.
  6. Galloping Goose No. 5 excursionsSpecial trips featuring the Rio Grande Southern motorcar, listed among the railroad's events.

Steam, whistles and a free museum stop

The full trip to Silverton is a long day, about 9.25 hours round trip including the layover, so it suits kids who can sit happily for a few hours at a time. The winter Cascade Canyon train is shorter, about 5.25 hours. For little ones, the free museum is an easy stop on its own: kids can look at railroad equipment up close in the roundhouse, and pre-arranged guided tours introduce school-age children to how railroading shaped Durango.

THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride is the railroad's most popular family excursion. Families who are not ready for a long ride can still watch trains come and go from the depot area downtown.

Plan your visit: tips for Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

  • Be seated on the train 30 minutes before departure, or your seats may be released.
  • Book early for best availability; no-shows are not refunded.
  • Cancellation fees are $14 per adult and $7 per child, with no refund within 5 days.
  • Show your train ticket at the Animas Museum in Durango for a small admission discount.
  • Groups of 20 or more can call the group office at (970) 385-8875.

THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride is the railroad's most popular family excursion each holiday season, and the museum stays open on the days it runs. Through the rest of the year, themed trains like the Shamrock Express, the Ragtime Train, the Cowboy Poetry Train and Galloping Goose No. 5 excursions add music and history to the ride. For more holiday options, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Colorado.

Shop crews, museum staff and railroad families

The D&SNG is owned by American Heritage Railways, and it relies on engine crews, shop workers and museum staff who keep original equipment running with old-time skills. Many of the museum's artifacts came from local families and retired railroad workers. Riding the train, buying from the gift shop and spreading the word all help keep the line in steam.

More narrow gauge country near Durango

The Ridgway Railroad Museum is about 61 miles north and focuses on the region's narrow gauge lines. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the other surviving piece of the Rio Grande narrow gauge, runs from Chama, New Mexico, about 76 miles away, to Antonito. Plan the rest of your trip with our list of train museums in Colorado.

Every train museum in Colorado

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Narrow gauge cars sit close to the ground compared to big trains, but the first step can still look like a mountain to a corgi. In our book, Rally's little legs can't quite make the climb, so Dad gives him a boost. I think of that every time I see families lifting toddlers up at a depot like Durango's. My kids are learning to read on that very page. More about the book is on our our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad?

The railroad departs from the Durango Depot at 479 Main Avenue in downtown Durango, Colorado 81301. Summer trains run 45 miles north along the Animas River to Silverton, and winter trains go 26 miles to Cascade Canyon. The free D&SNGRR Museum is at the back of the Durango rail yard, inside the roundhouse.

What is the Durango & Silverton train schedule today?

Departure times change by season and by excursion, so check the railroad's online booking calendar or call (970) 247-2733 for today's trains. As of October 2026, the Scenic Round Trip Silverton Train runs through November 1, and the Cascade Canyon Winter Train runs from late November to early May.

How long is the Durango to Silverton train ride?

The Scenic Round Trip Silverton Train takes about 9.25 hours, including a two-hour layover in Silverton. The ride up the canyon is roughly three and a half hours each way. If that is too long for your family, the winter Cascade Canyon train is about 5.25 hours round trip.

How much does the Durango & Silverton train cost?

Fares depend on the excursion, the date and your class of service: Standard, Deluxe, First Class or Presidential. The railroad posts current prices when you book online at durangotrain.com or by phone at (970) 247-2733. Packages with hotels and adventures, gift cards and a season pass are also offered.

Is the Durango & Silverton Railroad Museum free?

Yes. Admission to the D&SNGRR Museum is free, and the railroad encourages repeat visits because exhibits are added often. The 12,000-square-foot museum opened in 1998 in eight stalls of the 15-stall roundhouse and covers railroading, transportation and mining history, especially the D&RGW line.

What are the Durango & Silverton Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum opens daily from 7:30 am to 7 pm from late May through October 18 and is closed October 26 to 29 and November 2 to 20. Winter hours, November 21 to May 1, are Wednesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm plus any day the Polar Express or Cascade Canyon train runs. It closes Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What is the Cascade Canyon Winter Train?

From late November through early May, the railroad runs 26 miles each way from Durango to the wye at Cascade Station, deep in the San Juan National Forest. The trip takes about 5.25 hours round trip in heated coaches. It is a good choice for families who want snowy scenery without a full day on board.

Does the Durango & Silverton Railroad run The Polar Express?

Yes. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride is the railroad's most popular family excursion and runs during the holiday season from the Durango Depot. Tickets are booked through durangotrain.com along with winter excursions. The museum is open on days the Polar Express runs, so you can visit before or after.

Can you ride in the locomotive on the Durango & Silverton?

Yes. Locomotive Cab Rides let you ride with the engineer and fireman in a K-Class steam or diesel locomotive, from Durango to Silverton in summer or to Cascade Canyon in winter. They cannot be booked online: call (970) 385-8875. As of October 2026 the fare is listed at $1,100, and advance reservations are required.

Where do you park for the Durango & Silverton train?

Parking near the depot is paid. You can buy a parking ticket at the same time as your train tickets, online or by phone, or pay by credit card at the lot on the morning of your ride. Allow time to park, because passengers must be seated 30 minutes before departure.

What are the classes of service on the Durango & Silverton?

The railroad offers four classes: Standard, Deluxe, First Class and Presidential. Each car gives a different level of comfort and service. Round trips must be booked in one class, but you can buy two one-way tickets for split seating or ask to switch on the morning of your ride if space allows.

What is the cancellation policy for the Durango & Silverton train?

As of October 2026, cancellation fees are $14 per adult and $7 per child, and there is no refund within 5 days of the trip. No-shows are not refundable, and passengers must be seated 30 minutes before departure or their seats may be released to waiting riders. Fares and schedules can change without notice.

When was the Durango & Silverton railroad built?

The Denver & Rio Grande reached Durango on August 5, 1881 and began building toward Silverton that fall. Crews blasted a shelf into the Animas Canyon walls, and the tracks reached Silverton in July 1882. Trains have run on the line ever since, carrying ore at first and later mostly passengers.

Is the Durango & Silverton a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. The railroad is a federally designated National Historic Landmark District, and the American Society of Civil Engineers named it a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968. The Durango Depot, built in January 1882, has been preserved in its original form.

What happened to the Durango roundhouse?

The original 1881 roundhouse burned in the winter of 1989. All six operating locomotives were inside and were damaged, but every one was restored. A new roundhouse was built on the same site and opened in early 1990, with a facade of bricks saved from the old building. Eight of its stalls now hold the museum.

How many locomotives does the Durango & Silverton have?

The roster includes ten narrow gauge steam locomotives, eight of them operational, and ten narrow gauge diesel locomotives, six acquired since 2020. Some rolling stock dates to the 1880s. K-36 and K-37 class steam engines were restored in the 1980s and now run to Silverton.

Can large groups ride the Durango & Silverton train?

Yes. The group office handles bookings of 20 or more seats for tour groups, family and military reunions, church and business groups, clubs, weddings and birthday celebrations, plus private Nomad charters. Call (970) 385-8875 or fill out the Group Event Information Request Form on the railroad's website.

Can you get off the train in the wilderness on the Durango & Silverton?

The railroad offers Wilderness Access service for hikers and backpackers. Rockwood Station is the last point with highway access; between Rockwood and Silverton the line passes through designated wilderness with no motorized access. Check the railroad's Wilderness Access page for drop-off points and rules before you plan a trip.

Who owns the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad?

The railroad is part of American Heritage Railways, a heritage tourism company built around preserving history. Charles Bradshaw Jr. founded the D&SNG when he bought the line from the Denver and Rio Grande Western on March 25, 1981, and later owners have continued running it with original equipment.

What train museums are near the Durango & Silverton?

The Ridgway Railroad Museum is about 61 miles away. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which shares the Rio Grande's narrow gauge heritage, runs from Chama, New Mexico, about 76 miles away, to Antonito, Colorado. In Durango itself, the Animas Museum gives a small discount when you show your train ticket.

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