Seasons of the Narrow Gauge: A Year in the Life of the Durango & Silverton

By Duane A. Smith and Elizabeth A. Green

(Durango Herald Small Press, $18.54)

Durango and Silverton have a history together, a major portion of which can be attributed to the locomotive. It all began with William Jackson Palmer who turned his dream of building a railroad into reality. Palmer’s project was dangerous, but railroad construction workers labored fervently to complete it. Cutting into cliffs high above a rocky river, construction workers risked their lives and completed the project in the 1880s.

Today, the railroad is still important to Durango and Silverton residents. Tourists flock to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad every year, creating wonderful memories aboard the train.

Duane A. Smith and Elizabeth A. Green give readers a peek into the railroad’s past and present through written account and captivating photography. Smith and Green take you through the four seasons at the railroad with behind-the-scenes pictures of workers, locals, tourists and the mighty engine itself.  

Seasons of the Narrow Gauge was written and published by Durango locals. You can find the book online at www.durangoherald.com and other online bookstores.