The Last Coal Burner on the Durango & Silverton - Winter Steam Photo Special

The end of an era - the Durango & Silverton bids farewell to a 143-year tradition of coal-burning steam locomotives. By February of 2024, engine #481 was the last coal burner on the roster, slated to be converted to oil firing by springtime. It was aptly chosen as the star of the 2024 Winter Photographer's Special as a tribute to the art of hand firing that has kept the railroad in motion since the 1800s. The engine and crew did not disappoint - in a dramatic display of sights and sounds, the cold weather made for towering plumes of steam accompanied by ear-splitting exhaust reverberating off the canyon walls, peppering the snow-covered landscape with soot and cinders. While coal firing has fallen out of favor on the line, steam power is still alive and well on the Durango & Silverton. I highly recommend a visit to this picturesque railroad in southwestern Colorado - it is one of my favorite places in the world. You won't be disappointed! https://www.durangotrain.com 0:00 Introduction 0:43 Departure and Hand-firing 1:50 Climbing up to Rockwood (S-curves) 4:11 Approach to the Highline (AM) 4:46 The Highline (AM) 5:29 High Bridge 6:41 Getting back up to speed (Cement Wall) 8:26 Along the Animas River 8:52 Firing at speed 9:35 Tefft Bridge (AM) 10:36 Pigeon and Turret Peaks - aka "Goblin Fire" 12:07 Onboard at speed 12:41 Tefft Bridge (PM) 13:38 Slowing down 14:14 Approach to the Highline (PM) 14:51 The Highline (PM) 17:18 Rainbow (blowdown) 17:51 Durango after dark 18:31 "Hard to be grumpy, though, when you're doing this!" 18:50 Night departure 19:44 Credits