San Juan Express
The San Juan Express (also known as simply the San Juan) was a narrow gauge train that ran on the 3 feet (0.91 m) Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) route from Durango, Colorado via Chama, New Mexico; Cumbres Pass; and Antonito, Colorado to Alamosa, Colorado. The train ran from February 11, 1937 until January 31, 1951 as train numbers 115 and 116.[1]
The railroad line was closed by the D&RGW in 1968 and much of the narrow gauge trackage has since been abandoned. A surviving portion of the narrow gauge track in the route is the 64 miles (103 km) long Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad between Antonito and Chama which calls its westbound train the Colorado Limited and its eastbound train the New Mexico Express. The line from Antonito to Alamosa is now standard gauge only and belongs to the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad.
Frequently used engines
One of the most frequently used engines on this route was and still is the D&RGW K-36. Other locomotives used on this route included the D&RGW K-27, the D&RGW K-28, and the D&RGW K-37, and occasionlly the D&RGW C-18. One K-27 and one K-37 are used on the Cumbres & Toltec, with C-18 D&RGW 315 periodically visiting both the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec railroads.
Sections used today
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad uses the portion from Antonito, CO to Chama, NM. The portion from Durango to Silverton (not part of the San Juan Express) is run by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The line from Antonito to Alamosa, CO is now standard gauge only and belongs to the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad.
See also
- San Juan Extension
- Sublette Station
- Union Depot (Pueblo, Colorado)
- List of Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad lines
References
- ↑ "Rio Grande Passenger Trains". www.drgw.org. Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society. Retrieved 24 Jan 2014.
- Illustrated book of Steam and Rail, Garrat, Colin and Matthews, Max-Wade, Barnes & Noble Books, New York (2003) ISBN 978-0-7548-1657-7
External links
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