After the Flood; The Return of the Durango and Silverton Train

[Yard Limit]

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad pulled out of the station in Durango headed for Silverton on Friday September 21, 2018 for the first time since July 24th, marking the first full trip since track damage caused by floods.
The D&SNG was first sidelined June 1 after the 416 Fire broke out north of Durango, suspending service for about 40 days during peak tourist season as the wildfire burned 54,129 acres.
The train resumed full service from Durango to Silverton in mid-July, after the 416 Fire started to burn out and fire danger across Southwest Colorado began to subside with the arrival of modest rainfall.
But then, mudslides and debris caused by heavy rains on the 416 Fire burn scar washed out part of a mountain slope where the train runs north of Hermosa, requiring an extensive rebuild of the hillside and tracks.
The D&SNG’s trains have been trapped above the mudslide area, unable to return to Durango. For the past two months, the train has offered rides from the Rockwood station to Silverton.
The economic toll on the D&SNG – and the communities of Durango and Silverton – are not yet fully understood, but it’s been estimated to be as much as $40 million.  While shooting outside Silverton, I had the pleasure of meeting six gentlemen from England who are on an extended tour of North American trains.  People come from all over the world to see these historic steam engines.
We were there for the first train out of Durango after 416 fire, (https://youtu.be/Kiz87PDpXgE) and now, on September 21, 2018, we return to Durango to capture the first train since the track has been repaired near Hermosa caused by the floods of July 17 and July 24. 
This is the most beautiful time of year in Southern Colorado with entire hillsides turning gold from the aspen trees. 
Special thanks to Andrew Loya for permission to use his video of the flood. 
If you visit Silverton, make sure to check out the Bent Elbow!  Great old piano music and really good food. 
The Durango Railroad Historical Society completed their multi-year and highly-complicated restoration of Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) Reefer Car No. 39.  It will be on public display at the Silverton Northern Engine House.
Initially constructed in 1908, Reefer No. 39 is a refrigerator car commonly found in #DRGW fleets during the first half of the 20th century. This restoration is significant because these cars are very rare, and few of them have survived.

[MidlandMike]

I knew about the mudslides, but was there also additional "flood" dammage?  Thanks for the video.