D&RGW Narrow Guage

[thirdrail1]

The original Denver & Rio Grande was built as a narrow gauge railroad from Denver, CO, to Salt Lake City, UT. The Utah trackage was the Rio Grande Western. The original line went via Pueblo, Leadville, Gunnison, and Grand Junction. Late the route through Tennessee Pass and the Royal Gorge was built. By 1900, the new main line was standard gauged, but the line through Leadville and Gunnison stayed narrow gauge. The last narrow gauge line operated by the D&RGW was from Alamosa, CO, to Durango, CO, where the line split, with one branch going to Silverton, Co., and the other to Farmington, NM. This line was abandoned in 1969. Two segments are now operated as tourist trains, the Durango & Silverton out of Durango and the Cumbres & Toltec out of Chama, NM.

[Anonymous]

OOps, I'm mean't SOUTH! to Durango. YOU also might want to check the Royal Gorge rr. website as well. I've been to the GORGE as a little many years ago and thought a ride thru would be neat, but they did'nt offer rides then(1976), Its now possible on the Royal Gorge RR. Check them out.

[Anonymous]

you're best to look up the cumbres&toltec' friends web site, they should get you started, I think it's "freindscumbrestoltec" I know the D&RG ng. went as far south as Santa Fe NM. It also went to Grand Jct. Co. then north towards Durango and then east to chama. The chama to antonito portion and the durango-silverton are mostly all thats left of what was known as "The circle" Which stretched all the way to Denver, I believe. It was a unique railroad. Hope this helps, if you need more info just drop a line.

[Anonymous]

What happened to it, where did it reach, and is any of it still used?