Telluride 2 - Vacation 2005

We had lunch there. The restaurant was crowded (good sign). We sat in the brilliant, alpine sunshine, sharing a table with two other couples (crowded). One of the men said that the narrow-gauge train came to Telluride and ended there. Until sometime in the 40s then, the Denver & Rio Grande Western ran a narrow-gauge train from Antonito, CO to Chama, NM to Durango, CO to Silverton to Telluride. The line was shut down for economic reasons and then a landslide broke the line between Chama and Durango. The states of CO and NM revived two separate tourist lines. One runs between Durango and Silverton; the other between Antonito and Chama. Thirty-five years ago (brother) John’s family and ours took the trip from Antonito to Chama. My children still talk about the trip. The scenery was stunning. Impossibly steep canyons alternated with alpine valleys.