D&SNGRR Railroad Announces Steam Train Passenger Service Will Resume on Saturday, July 28

DURANGO, Colo. - July 26, 2018 - PRLog -- The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad™ (D&SNGRR), which offers distinctive year-round rail experiences and special events to passengers of all ages in the remote, scenic wilderness and high-mountain landscape of Colorado's San Juan National Forest, today announced it is resuming steam train passenger service on Saturday, July 28, with two slightly modified daily excursions to the mining town of Silverton.

As previously announced, the D&SNGRR sustained significant track damage between Hermosa and Rockwood as a result of a severe thunderstorm which struck the Four Corners area on Tuesday, July 24. The railroad's maintenance of way (MOW) team, in collaboration with several engineering consulting firms and specialized contractors retained by the company, is currently assessing the extent of the extensive damage, and the time, materials, and resources required to repair it.

Because the aforementioned section of track cannot be used at this time, the D&SNGRR will resume passenger service with slightly modified Silverton excursions. Guests will be transported from the depot via Highway 550, past the damaged section of track, to the railroad's Rockwood station just north of Durango where they will board the train. The train will depart from Rockwood to Silverton, and then return to Rockwood and Durango in the same manner. This modified trip includes the iconic Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, all of the Animas River gorge, and spectacular views from the High Line. These amended trips will remain in place through at least Wednesday, August 15, while the tracks repairs are ongoing and other erosion prevention structures are installed.

Important Passenger Information
Scheduling
Between July 28 and August 15, all passengers will take a D&SNGRR-provided bus from the Durango depot to the Rockwood station. Guests booked on the 8:00 a.m. train will now depart on the 8:00 a.m. bus, and guests on the 8:45 a.m. train will now leave on the 9:30 a.m. bus. During this time, the railroad will not operate bus service to Silverton. For those passengers who booked bus service to or from Silverton, the railroad will convert their excursions to round-trip train service. The layover in Silverton will be 2.25 hours.

Wilderness Access Cancelled for Remainder of 2018
Effective immediately, the D&SNGRR is suspending all wilderness access services for backpackers and other outdoor enthusiasts from its Needleton and Elk Park stops. Any passengers who have purchased such excursions will receive full and automatic refunds.

Rebooking Excursions
In nearly all cases, the D&SNGRR will attempt to rebook passengers to similar excursions. If a rebooking cannot be facilitated, the guest will receive a full and automatic refund. All rebooked passengers, as well as those guests whose service is canceled, will receive detailed communication via text and/or email explaining how their original trips were affected.

Additional Information
Passengers seeking more information about the railroad and its recently-sustained track damage can visit a special section of the D&SNGRR website created for this purpose at www.durangotrain.com/washout. In addition, passengers can call (888) 687-2461 with any questions they may have.