Animas River Canyon
AA-2026-0942F3
On the image
The train winds its way through a deep canyon, passengers perhaps marveling at the immediate proximity of a wild river. It's a calculated adventure, designed to feel genuinely dangerous while being entirely safe, which consistently appeals to a particular kind of human desire.
The Animas River below is a vigorous, churning brown, a natural force that appears capable of eroding mountains, though not, presumably, the carefully laid tracks. People paid good money in the 1970s to sit inside a metal box and watch this, believing they were experiencing nature.
This scenic railway journey was perfected as a way to combine rugged wilderness with modern convenience, allowing one to appreciate the raw power of the landscape without actually having to interact with it. It’s the ultimate expression of tourism as a spectator sport.
The historian's note
This image captures a passenger train of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) traversing the Animas River Canyon in Colorado during the 1970s. The railroad operates 45 miles of three-foot narrow gauge track between Durango and Silverton, a historic route known for its dramatic mountain scenery.
Originally constructed in the 1880s to transport silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains, the D&SNG transitioned into a prominent heritage railway, carrying only passengers by 1968. By the 1970s, its primary function was tourism, offering scenic excursions through remote mountain wilderness.
The turbulent, muddy appearance of the Animas River suggests a period of high water, likely spring runoff. The railway's close proximity to the river through this rugged terrain is a defining characteristic of the journey, offering passengers unique views of the canyon.
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Visually related — by likeness
Durango & Silverton Train, Animas River Canyon, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-0942F3. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/durango-silverton-train-animas-river-canyon-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20260942F3,
title = {Durango \& Silverton Train, Animas River Canyon, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-0942F3},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/durango-silverton-train-animas-river-canyon-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Durango & Silverton Train, Animas River Canyon, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-0942F3 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/durango-silverton-train-animas-river-canyon-1970s ER -
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