Federal Lawsuit Against The D&SNG Settled

Above, the D&SNG train at Highline above the Animas River this month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I hadn't heard anything about the federal lawsuit against the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad over the 416 Fire in 2018.

So, I did some checking and found that the matter had been settled earlier this year.

According to the Durango Telegraph (June 23 article):

As part of the settlement in a federal lawsuit related to the 416 Fire, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is now subject to sudden closures if wildfire danger is too high, which is having mixed results just a few weeks in practice.

In March, the D&SNG and the U.S. Forest Service signed a settlement stemming from the federal lawsuit, in which the railroad was accused of starting the 416 Fire, north of Durango in the summer of 2018. The agreement held several conditions, namely that D&SNG would pay the federal government $20 million to recoup firefighting costs. 

In addition, the D&SNG has agreed to not run trains if wildfire danger is too high, as determined by a fire restriction system set by the Forest Service.

“It’s definitely a game changer for the way we do business,” Jeff Johnson, general manager of the D&SNG, said. “And cancellations are the most difficult part of this process, because we’re aware this is something people have planned for a long time. It’s on their bucket list.” 

With an incredibly dry spring and early summer, the D&SNG has already been forced to shut down several days this June, canceling thousands of reservations and affecting the two towns that rely on the tourism dollars, Durango and Silverton. 

The situation is further muddled by the fact that after the 416 Fire, the D&SNG promised to convert its fleet from running on coal, which holds a huge fire risk, to oil- and diesel-burning engines. The D&SNG spent millions to fulfill this commitment, but even still, these locomotives are not allowed to run in certain conditions. 

Above, the Animas River next to the train during the trip to Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our ride on the train earlier this month, I did not see any evidence of the fire. The locomotive that took us to Silverton is one converted to oil from coal. Admittedly, I miss the smell of burning coal.

Fortunately, we've had a great monsoon season which lowered the fire danger in the San Juan Mountains where the train runs. We had rain while we were in Silverton and it rained prior to our arrival at Alpen Rose RV Park in Durango. We had some rainfall during our train ride and we saw several waterfalls along the way. 

To read the full article, go here.

Durango Train: Who's Conducting Who?

Above, the Durango train at Rockwood Station in September 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The lawsuit between the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and La Plata County over who has regulatory jurisdiction over the train and its operations rolls along. 

At the heart of the matter was the use of Rockwood Station, 15 miles north of Durango, Colorado during the pandemic and into 2021. 

According to the Durango Telegraph:

Who has regulatory authority over the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad? Well, that’s a loaded question that should receive further clarification as part of a lawsuit between the railroad and La Plata County over the increased use at the Rockwood station north of Durango.

The D&SNG filed the lawsuit May 21 after La Plata County issued the railroad a notice that it may be in violation of the county’s land-use code for ramping up operations at Rockwood in the past year without first going through the proper channels. According to neighbors, using Rockwood as a major point of departure has caused all kinds of problems with traffic, noise, trespassing, litter and increased fire danger.

The D&SNG, for its part, argues its operations pre-date the county’s codes, and even still, it is only subject to regulatory authority from the PUC. The railroad says operations out of Rockwood are now essential to the company’s success, accounting for millions of dollars in profits. When it shut down Rockwood trips this spring until this matter is settled, 30% of customers chose to cancel rather than rebook a ride out of Durango.

In the meantime, the D&SNG has ceased major operations out of Rockwood. Despite losing those trips, the railroad reported one of its best years on record in 2021. Because the case is active, representatives with D&SNG and La Plata County denied commenting for this story.

Back in September 2020, I took a Durango train ride to Cascade Canyon from Rockwood Station. Then, last April, I paid a visit to the Durango train station and noticed that the trains were departing and arriving from there, confirming the last paragraph in the article. The railroad has operated Rockwood Station for over 140 years, long before any residences nearby were built.

Above, the Durango train departing Durango Station in April 2021. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I suspect the resident malcontents are probably liberals who moved into Colorado (possibly from California). In case you haven't noticed, liberals tend to ruin communities they move into.  

To read the full article, go here.

Durango Trains Converting To Oil From Coal

Above, an oil-burning steam locomotive departing Durango Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I took a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad last year, the train I rode was converted from coal to oil.

One of the conductors I talked to said that their source of coal would be played out in few years, so they had to start converting their locomotives to oil-burners.

Well, there's more to it than that.

A wildfire was started in 2018 that was blamed on coal embers of a Durango train. 

So now, the conversion of coal-burning engines to oil burning engines is proceeding. The only thing I will miss is the smell of burning coal.

According to the Durango Telegraph:

The age of burning coal to fire up the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has come to an end. Adapting to drought and heightened wildfire risk, this summer marks the first time in the D&SNG’s history where it will rely solely on oil-burning and diesel engines.

“It’s a new era,” Jeff Johnson, general manager of the D&SNG, said Monday. “Things change, but that’s part of progress.”

Throughout its 140-year history, the D&SNG has shoveled coal into its steam engines to power locomotives to Silverton and back, a 90-mile roundtrip gaining nearly 3,000 feet in elevation.

But in recent years, the D&SNG has received significant pushback from members of the community concerned about environmental impacts: namely the wildfire risk posed by coal-burning engines and the ensuing air pollution that has long vexed residents on the south side of town.

 To read more, go here.