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Railfest steams ahead

Train rides, displays to highlight weekend

The “Gold Diggers and Dance Halls” theme of this year’s True West Railfest calls attention to the men who moiled for gold in the San Juan Mountains starting in the late 1800s and the venues that provided relief and release from weeks or months in the hills.

This is the 16th edition of Railfest and the third the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is sponsoring with True West magazine. The celebration began Thursday and will end Sunday.

The Durango Historical Railroad Society has a role, too.

The Emma Sweeney, a replica of an 1899 Rio Grande Southern Railroad steam locomotive used in the 1949 movie “A Ticket to Tomahawk” filmed in Durango and Silverton, will be on display from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday in Santa Rita Park.

Railroad society members have spent hundreds of hours restoring the engine.

Society members also will have an information booth at the D&SNG depot.

At the railroad historical park in Silverton, engine No. 315 will be on display.

No. 315, built in Philadelphia in 1895, served long and well but was scheduled to be scrapped when it was rescued. It eventually ended up in Durango and was restored by the Durango Historical Railroad Society.

Highlighting today’s Railfest activities will be the trip by rail in luxurious D&SNG cars with on-board musical entertainment.

At Cascade Canyon, passengers will feast on a catered dinner of all locally-grown, natural food.

The cost is $179 per person. There’s room for 104 passengers. On Friday, a few tickets were still available. Tickets can be purchased at the depot, which is at Main Avenue and Fifth Street, or by calling 247-2733.

An alternative to the luxury train is a 1-hour, 10-mile round trip to the wye on the Galloping Goose, a single rail car built from a limousine. The Goose was used in the early days to carry mail, groceries and passengers to venues where full rail service wouldn’t be feasible.

Those who don’t travel can spend the day at a Grange hall at the depot, where 40 vendors will sell Western and railroad memorabilia.

The first Railfest street dance is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. today in front of the depot. Entrance is free.

Marking the last day of Railfest on Sunday will be all-day excursions on the Galloping Goose to the Cascade Canyon wye.

A rodeo will be held at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, starting at 7 p.m. Sunday. Among events are bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing and roping.

daler@durangoherald.com

True West Railfest

For more information, visit www.durangotrain.com.

Today

Railroadiana, railroad and western memorablia swap meet, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Grange.

Railfest Street Dance featuring High Rollers, 6-9 p.m., Main Avenue in front of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot.

Sunday

Cowboys for Christ Fellowship Service, 8-8:45 a.m., location to be determined.

True West Rodeo finale, 7 p.m., $16/$11, La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave., www.truewestrodeo.com.

Mar 29, 2016
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge prepares for Grand Imperial, a replacement for Railfest


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