Awesome Webs -- Our Vacation -- Durango to Silverton Train

CO -- Durango to Silverton Train

The Durango to Silverton Train is well worth the trip. We rode both ways, although some choose to take a bus for one direction.

The train leaves Durango and stops in Silverton where you get out and find a restaurant for lunch. The train, now turned around, leaves for the return to Durango.

It's very scenic, and very memorable to some as the train that was used in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." If you take it round-trip, it's a full-day affair. There are various classes of service; because of my back, we choose an upgraded car with comfortable chairs that moved and a table. We had a hostess (Ellie) who provided complimentary soft drinks, as well as a mug and a souvenir bag. She also provided a significant amount of information on the surroundings as we traveled, and gave us even more insight into the formations, since she is a geologist.

We found the service on the train to be excellent, and heartily recommend this experience.

In Silverton, we were concerned about the "rush" to the restaurants, as I am handicapped. Thanks to a contact at the Silverton City Hall, we were referred to "Natalia's 1912 Restaurant," where the owner not only reserved us a table, but offered to send a car to the train to pick us up. We had a wonderful buffet at Natalia's, and the owner offered to let me sit at the table while the others shopped. Her hospitality was unbelievable.

Handlebar's is also very good. You can see it on our new Silverton page.

Right behind Natalia's is K & C Traders, the only source of Astorite. The owner saw my difficulty in walking (I left my cane in Durango because of the muddy streets) and immediately got me a stool upon which to sit. Again, I cannot emphasize how nice everyone was to us. Of course, it paid off for him, as my wife purchased earrings for her and our daughter. When we visited again the next year, he remembered us, and we again purchased some beautiful jewelry. This is a must-see place when you visit Silverton.

For more on Silverton, visit our Silverton page.

During our 2012 visit to Durango, we were admiring some beautiful flowers (below) when we noticed that not everything looked like a flower. No, we won't tell you where this is. No, we didn't bring any home with us.

PICTURES

(Some may have been taken while moving, so please pardon them being a little blurry.)

Click on thumbnails to view full-size picture.

Durango to Silverton Train

	Why the picture at top left? Aside from showing how closely they had to cut some of the paths for the train, it's also the spot where the Hole in the Wall Gang jumped on top of the train during the first robbery. We took hundreds of pictures of this trip; unfortunately, a camera card error left us with only a few.



	General Palmer Hotel -- Durango This is the "Palace" addition to the General Palmer Hotel. A restaurant occupies the first floor, and a very classy, old hotel occupies the 2nd. If you like fancy, you'll love the General Palmer. It's also very convenient for the train. You can see the parking lot in the picture, as well as the "back" stairs. If you walk down the "front" stairs, you're about 50' from the train depot. Since parking is at such a premium, you can't beat this for convenience for train access.

Econo Lodge -- Durango

We have also stayed at the Comfort Inn, which is very nice. However, the real "find" in Durango is the Econo Lodge. We stayed there during our 2012 trip for one night. It was very nice, and the staff was excellent.

When making reservations, we discovered their spacious suite (picture on right) was not available using Choice points. However, we contacted the manager and he immediately took care of us. (Note the picture shows the sitting area. Two king beds are on the right, and the bathroom is in the back. The sink is outside of the bathroom, which we prefer.)

On the night we arrived, we realized we had left our 6-page itinerary at home. We had it on the computer, but we had left the printout. I inquired at the front desk to find a business center in Durango where I could print the 6 pages (without them, we were lost). The clerk gladly printed them for us and wouldn't even let us pay for the paper.

The next morning, our hair dryer died. The front desk provided a loaner. We were concerned about staying at Econo Lodge, as it appears to be near the bottom of the Choice properties. However, we heartily recommend the Econo Lodge in Durango for price, amenities, location, and an excellent staff who appreciates their clientele.

Museum at Durango Station

	There were 3 cabooses made for the picture, all constructed of balsa wood to help prevent injuries. When "Sundance" said, "Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?", the reaction was serious. They really had used too much dynamite. This is the remaining caboose, which is used to show video.

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