I am a fan of the 9300 ft. village of Silverton CO. I visited Silverton and the San Juan Mountains every year but one beginning in 1980. I named my little belt buckle company after it and have produced four belt buckles featuring Silverton, as well as writing a book about the silver passes issued by Otto Mears for the Silverton Railroad. In this blog I try to capture the essence of the tourist season of the town. It all starts with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad bringing in the tourists. 
One of two daily trains has just arrived and passengers are disembarking to explore the town and grab a bite of lunch. In t he height of summer, three trains arrive daily.
Everywhere one looks from the main street of Silverton, mountains loom in the background. The Grand Imperial Hotel is at the right.
The proprietor of Fetchs variety store has reprinted my book on the Sliverton RR silver passes.
View to the northeast along Silverton’s main street, Greene. The aspens are just beginning to turn yellow.
Rails reached Silverton in July 1882 and this depot was built. It still is in use by the D&SNGRR. The Denver & Rio Grande sold the Silverton branch in 1981 after operating it for 99 years.
The last train of the day is leaving Silverton on September 18.
The train is heading down Animas Canyon on its way back to Durango.
Locomotive 493 is one of several standard gauge locomotives rebuilt to narrow gauge by the D&RG for service in several areas of its narrow gauge empire. None are now in service because they are too hard on the light rail used for narrow gauge tourist operations. Railfans roaming the Silverton yards are welcome t oclimb aboard and pose as engineers.
Casey Jones rail car, built for the Silverton Northern RR from a Cadillac touring car. It has been restored and is in operated on special occasions.
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