Lost in the landscape. Under a threatening sky, our RGS Freight is almost lost in the landscape of the New Mexico desert, as she runs around Lava Loop toward Antonito, CO, some 10 miles to the Northeast. The terrain here is so very different from that which the RGS trains roamed nearly 100 years ago. This is flat, open desert with nothing but sagebrush for vegetation. The RGS ran west out of Durango, up into the San Juan Mountains, which featured steep grades and high mountain passes, and lots of snow in the winter. Compared with her days on the RGS, 315 is just loafing on this run.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.