The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansDurango 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

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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.

Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansThroughout 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.

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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! 

 

 

San Juan Mountain Range | Colorado Mountain Passes

Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plans(Black Bear Pass, Telluride)

As some of you may know, I spent most of 2013 in Lake City, Colorado, a small, but amazing historic mining town located in the heart of the San Juan Mountain Range. While in Lake City, I designed multiple plans for Texas Tiny Homes clients, as well as designed plans that are now available for purchase in our online store.

Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansAs 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.Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plans 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. Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansI 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.

Engineers Pass starts out at 8761 feet in Lake City, and the mountain road reaches an elevation of 12,600 at Cinnamon Pass, though Lake City is surrounded by fourteeners, which means they are 14,000′ feet high. Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansEngineer Pass is a 23.4 miles trail, located in Hinsdale County, and is one of Colorado’s most scenic off-road drives. This 4 x 4 trail, combined with Cinnamon Pass, constitutes the famous Alpine Loop. It is an exhilarating trip for drivers of all experience levels, but many who venture out on that loop wind up having panic attacks and have abandon their vehicles and walk back down to safer ground, and someone drives their vehicle down. Some of the rental places told me they have to go pick up their vehicles due to their customers freaking out, which made me feel a little better knowing I was not the only one who panicked at times during that 6 hour drive. Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansEngineers Pass is one of two major passes on the Alpine Loop and is at 12,800 ft. From this vantage point, the surrounding areas unfold, including Mt. Sneffels (14,150 ft.) to the west and Uncompahgre Peak (14,309 ft.) to the northeast. The extinct Lake City volcanic caldera, which the Alpine Loop encircles, lies to the east. Four-wheel drive vehicles travel this pass today, but at one time it was a toll road, built by Otto Mears. The first stagecoach passed over this road in 1877. Tiny House Plans, Small Home Plans, Micro Tiny Home Plans, Micro Home Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansBesides the breath taking views that are in every direction, there are multiple abandoned mining camps that you can get out and explore, which as a long time home builder I found very interesting.

2013-06-21 16.08.37Caution should be used at all times, especially if you encounter wet weather. Any 4 x 4 with moderate ground clearance and low-range gearing can do fine. Drive on a clear day to see all the views. Unlicensed vehicles are not allowed to ride through the town of Lake City to connect with Cinnamon Pass.2013-07-06 22.40.25 4

Engineers Pass was an afternoon I’ll never forget, but was glad to be back at 8700 feet that evening. I did notice the more I drove from Lake City over to Gunnision, and other the nearby towns during my extended time there the more comfortable I became. When I finally pulled out of Lake City in December, the drive back to Creede only took an hour. I can’t really call myself a mountaineer, but I do plan to go back as much as possible in the years to come.



Vintage Tiny Home | Lake City, Colorado

Tiny House Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansThis 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.

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Lake City is a very popular vacation town for Texan’s, who bring their families here during the summer months to enjoy everything the great historic town offers. I’m thinking it might be an ideal place to build a model home for Texas Tiny Homes, and am looking at available lots, and considering the possibilities.

Tiny House Plans, Tiny Home plans, Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses, Tiny House Builder, Tiny Homes Builder, small houses, small house plansLet me know if you would like more information on that, as well as everything the wonderful town offers. This picture is after a day of exploring the town with my good buddy, Terry, whose family has had a lovely summer home here for 20 plus year. We stopped off at the Packer Saloon & Cannibal Grill for; “Tuesday Taco’s”, which are delicious. Speaking of Tuesday Taco’s..hmmm : )