Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad # 493

Had a surprise visitor this morning during coffee.  DSNGRR # 493 came along the tracks all by herself.  It is running light up to Rockwood a few miles up hill from here. The railroad has been hit hard by COVID19.  When they finally thought they could get going, a flash flood knocked out a train bridge a bit south of Silverton.  So in order to provide at leaset some rides, they run a train from Rockwood to Cascade and back with this oil-burning (retro fitted) loco and a bunch of cars. No clue as to the number of riders, but I am guessing that the loco spends the night in Durango and then runs up the hill to Rockwood for the run with the passsenger cars. There is a substantial hill just north of Durango and I am guessing that one loco could not pull all the cars - so they leave them at Rockwood.  Hopefully full service will be back in August.  Silverton has been hit hard by the lack of trains as has the railroad.

The extra is the N scale mine tipple - all finished and paint touched up.  WAY to pristine for sure and the next blip will be the building totally weathered and placed on the N scale layout.  The kit was really fun and well engineered - everything ft just right.   It has been waiting in its box for 15+ years.  I have tested some dark washes for the corrugated roofing to really tone it down.  Same with the windows.  The weathering will be fun for sure.  Slow and steady.