Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. By July of 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed and the train began hauling both passengers and freight.
From the very beginning, the railroad was promoted as a scenic route for passenger service although the line was constructed primarily to haul mine ores, both gold and silver, from the San Juan Mountains. It is estimated over $300 million in precious metals has been transported over this route
By 1885 the population of Silverton had grown to 1100 and Otto Mears completed the toll road to Ouray and additional narrow gauge track out of Silverton was laid down in 1887. In 1893, 10 large mines in the Silverton district were forced to close when silver prices dropped from $1.05/oz to $.63/oz. Just three years later the Yankee Girl and Guston Mines played out. In Durango, the fire of 1889 virtually destroyed downtown and the first automobile arrived by train in 1902. By 1906, Mesa Verde was designated a National Park, increasing the potential for tourism promotions.
Throughout the next twenty years the railroad faced many challenges; slides, floods, snow, war and financial instability. When the US Government entered WW I, it assumed operation of the railroad. Shortly after resuming control of railroad operations, the D&RGW reorganized due to financial difficulties. Silverton suffered devastating effects from the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 – 10 percent of the population died in just six weeks! In addition, the Gold King Mine closed, the Sunnyside Mine temporarily ceased operations for almost ten years and the Silverton Railroad closed.
Today the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad continues to provide year-round train service, operating a historical train with rolling stock indigenous to the line. The locomotives used to pull today’s train remain 100% coal-fired, steam-operated. The locomotives are 1923-25 vintage and are maintained in original condition. The coaches each feature bathroom facilities and are heated during the winter months for passenger comfort. Open gondola cars provide a panoramic view of the mountains. Concessions are available on every train. The Durango & Silverton is owned and operated by American Heritage Railways.
More on the Durango Train and its website!
As someone born and raised in Texas, I had only been to Colorado once before, but even then it was a “drive through the state” as I was in route to Wyoming. I was not accustomed to mountain driving last April 6th, or fully prepared for what I was about to encounter as I left Creede, Colorado for what was suppose to be an “hour long drive”. That hour long drive (according to the experts) took me about three and half hours due to it being dark, and it was sleeting and snow was falling, and I was on a narrow, two lane mountain road that had no guard rails. I will be honest flatlander’s, I was white knuckling it at 2 miles per hour during much of that steep and slick mountain drive. Once slip up and you plunge to your death.
While in Colorado, I was also able to do quite a bit of exploring in and around Lake City; including going on a 6 -hour Jeep ride around Engineers Pass, which features some amazing, world class views, but that mountain drive is not an ideal situation for those who suffer vertigo, as I apparently do, though I’ve never been professionally diagnosed. 
I hate to admit it, but I was hoodwinked into this great adventure by a couple of Lake City buddies who were well aware that took me 3 times longer to drive from Creede to Lake City as it does full time mountaineers. They were not honest with me about what I was in store for as we ventured out on the famous mountain pass.
This charming old tiny home is located in Lake City, Colorado, where I’m at for a few months working on new plan designs for Texas Tiny Homes. There’s a lot of inspiration here in this old mining town, which is completely surrounded by 14,000 ft. mountains. The historic downtown has quite a few old buildings, and homes that feature unique design elements I hope will influence some of the new plans I’m working on.
