The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, often shortened to Rio Grande, D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a
During the late 1800s the D&RG made extensive use of consolidations (engines with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement). This drawing, of an unusual wheel arrangement, was titled "Standard Consolidation Engine", 1881.
Over the course of decades, D&RG consolidations were subjected to various modifications. In the 20th century, diamond stacks gave way to straight stacks, box headlights were replaced with round ones, decorative trim disappeared from the domes, and wooden pilots (cowcatchers) were replaced with steel ones.
The D&RG touted its scenic Royal Gorge Route in the company herald on rolling stock beginning in 1926.
D&RGW 5384, patch-renumbered into UP 8637
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 miles of track between Durango and Silverton, in t
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
…Two narrow-gauge segments survive as steam railroads, the Antonito–Chama line as the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad and Durango–Silverton as the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Rio Grande Southern Railroad connected to San Juan Extension in Durango and went through the western edge of San Juan Mountains to Ridgway, Colorado…
Highline above Animas Canyon
Galloping Goose #4 at the Durango station. Postcard photo taken circa 1945.
Train entering Silverton
Photo of the first trip of the "Painted Train", circa 1950