Durango & Southern buys WP&Y Alco diesels

Yes, The White Pass & Yukon (WP&Y) took good care of these locomotives, and they are a bargain.  When these locomotives came from Alco, the WP&Y still hauled freight as well as passengers, but now they are surplus.

Did DRG&W ever consider diesels for the narrow gauge?  Black and orange would have looked great!

Please edit your title, as the Colorado narrow gauge railroad in question is the "Durango & Silverton", and NOT the "Durango & Southern".

Also, it is the WP&Y railroad, as the word "Yukon" begins with a "Y" and NOT a "U".

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Did DRG&W ever consider diesels for the narrow gauge?  Black and orange would have looked great!

An EMD U. S. Army Transportation Corps. MRS-1 appeared on the Rio Grande narrow gauge for a couple of years, but there was no serious attempt to dieselize the narrow gauge operation.

Rusty

Does anyone know what the WP&Y's 'remaining' engine roster looks like? When we were up there in 2013 we were told their steam engine(s) only haul the tourist trains occasionally, and it was one (or perhaps two) of those Alco/MLW engines that pulled our train back then.

Cool. My wife and I will be riding both the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroads in September. Just made our arrangements this week.

Pat

PH1975 posted:

Does anyone know what the WP&Y's 'remaining' engine roster looks like? When we were up there in 2013 we were told their steam engine(s) only haul the tourist trains occasionally, and it was one (or perhaps two) of those Alco/MLW engines that pulled our train back then.

The WP&Y is buying 10 new locomotives.

Rusty

irish rifle posted:

Cool. My wife and I will be riding both the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroads in September. Just made our arrangements this week.

Pat

I hope you are riding all the way across the Cumbres & Toltec.  It is authentic Colorado narrow gauge railroading, more so than the Durango & Silverton, however it does not have the dramatic track on the vertical canyon wall that the D&S does.

I edited the title to read Durango & Silverton

I have ridden the Cumbres and Toltec and it was a great trip.     We stayed in a really great B&B about a block form the station in Chama.    I spent an evening walking around the yard there, with permission, taking pictures of all the preserved NG equipment.

What use will ten new diesels be put to IF the WP&Y no longer hauls freight?  I made sure l rode the WP&Y behind steam.by arriving ln Skagway on the day it was running.  I rode the Silverton a couple of times in the 1950's (D&RGW), passed up other chances (big mistakes), but have only ridden half of the C&T once..(fire threat blocked other attempts). I want to ride them in the fall when the aspens have turned, but that has been fire season after a hot summer with drouth.   Only want to ride behind historical steam.

Rusty Traque - Thanks for providing the article about the new engines the WP&Y is acquiring, but it only refers to six (6) engines - not ten (10). So do you know if this going to be a phased purchase, where they get 6 first and 4 more at a later date?

Also, the article didn't clarify the engine manufacturer and type. Do you know?

Allan Miller posted:

I edited the title to read Durango & Silverton

 

Thanks Allan.  If I'm not mistaken (I could be) I think WP&"U" should also be WP&Y (for Yukon?)

colorado hirailer posted:

What use will ten new diesels be put to IF the WP&Y no longer hauls freight? 

What about all the tens of thousands of passengers from all the massive cruise ships that stop there? Yes, the cruise ships are currently "on hold", but next year will bring a whole new flock of tourists to Skagway.

I made sure l rode the WP&Y behind steam.by arriving ln Skagway on the day it was running. 

The WP&Y still has the steam locomotives.

I rode the Silverton a couple of times in the 1950's (D&RGW), passed up other chances (big mistakes), but have only ridden half of the C&T once..(fire threat blocked other attempts). I want to ride them in the fall when the aspens have turned, but that has been fire season after a hot summer with drouth.   Only want to ride behind historical steam.

Well, that's your choice but the vast majority of the tourists that ride the WP&Y, and even the Durango & Silverton, don't seem to care WHAT is pulling the train.

colorado hirailer posted:

What use will ten new diesels be put to IF the WP&Y no longer hauls freight?

Put them on the tourist trains and retire more of the older diesels.  I'd bet 99% of the tourists coming off cruise ships could care less if the motive power is steam or diesel. 

Rusty

As Tom eluded.    Both Trains are dissimilar  but  TERRIFIC  / GRAND.

The C&T sided about half way for a Picnic style lunch on the grounds( with blanket ). It was in a Plateau with grass & Wild Flowers as the Train going the other way passed.  GREAT

The D&S turned around in Silverton for about an hour. A rebuilt town ( I e , Tourist                '  attraction ' )  .  They were  many terrific Views   Amazing

The Motive Power was ALL Steam in the late '70s 

Allan Miller posted:

I edited the title to read Durango & Silverton

You missed the WP&Y instead of WP&U.

I have ridden both D&S and C&T many times. The scenery on both are comparable. The D&S has the shelf carved out of the side of the Animas River gorge which is spectacular. But the C&T has similar stretches, especially in the section between the lunch break and Antonito ( east bound ). On balance the D&S has better marketing especially since it originates/terminates in real towns (Durango, Silverton). Chama and Antonito were dusty little cow towns back in the day and that has not really changed. Every time I go to Chama I expect to see the Lone Ranger & Tonto ride into town. But IMHO C&T has the edge but is a sleeper. It could use a little boosting. FWIW.

John

As one who has ridden both several times, sit on the right hand side going to Silverton on the D&S.  Otherwise you will see a lot of rock wall.  Save your money don't buy a roundtrip, take the bus back from Silverton.  This will give you time to explore Silverton.  The C&T is the more interesting and the lunch is great.  Glad to see you are coming to New Mexico and southern Colorado the people depend on tourism and the economy is hurting.