The mighty steam engine, Engine 482, built 1925 rests on the tracks in downtown Durango as smoke and puffs of steam rise into the morning sky.  We make our way to the depot window and pickup our tickets ready for our day on the rails.

As we take our seats in a beautifully restored passenger car we are greeted by Victoria Day, a lady of the 19^th Century and our narrator for the trip to Silverton.   We rock and bump our way through beautiful countryside along the Animas River and Vic tells tales from the heyday of mining and railroads in this valley.

Before long we are disembarking in Silverton. It is a much quieter town than that of the tales we heard on the train.  Gone are the many brothels and saloons and the population is closer to 500 than the thousands during the mining boom.  There are shops and restaurants and a couple beautifully restored grand hotels. We stroll the streets window shopping and check out a couple restaurants.  First, funnel cakes.  I couldn’t stick with just the powdered sugar I had to go with cinnamon roll toppings, cream cheese icing, carmel, and cinnamon sugar! Kent didn’t show any more restraint, he had cream cheese carmel pecan.  What a sugar rush.  We had to offset it with some real food.  Pasties count don’t they?  Anyway, we had an absolutely delicious beef pastie.  The crust was flaky-amazing.  Sweet potato fritters with a honey mustard sauce rounded out the meal.  Oh yeah, fudge came highly recommended so I couldn’t pass it up but we will enjoy it later after the funnel cake wears off.

All aboard, we head back to Durango.  This leg we are joined by Cora Mears Pitcher who continues with tales of the times.

Another great American Railroad experience.