{"id":28525,"date":"2024-03-27T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/last-coal-fired-engine-departs-durango-train-station-marking-end-of-an-era\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T00:31:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:31:42","slug":"last-coal-fired-engine-departs-durango-train-station-marking-end-of-an-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/last-coal-fired-engine-departs-durango-train-station-marking-end-of-an-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Last coal-fired engine departs Durango train station, marking end of an era"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Durango
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Conductor Johnathan Rooney, left, and railroad engineer Isaac Randolph place new flags on steam Engine No. 481 on Saturday ahead of its last coal-fueled outing. The 99-year-old locomotive will be converted to use oil as a fuel source for producing steam. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Saturday marked the bittersweet end of an era for Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad with the last departure of the railroad\u2019s sole remaining coal-burning locomotive, Engine No. 481.<\/p>\n

The last coal engine left the rail yard for Cascade Canyon at 9:15 a.m. It was carrying about 185 passengers, many of whom were none the wiser to the historic moment unfolding.<\/p>\n

A small group of railroad workers, volunteers and longtime fans of D&SNG gathered on the platform to wave at passengers as the train rolled out and to embrace the memorable scent of burning coal for the last time.<\/p>\n

\"Durango
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Fireman Jonathan Neuer shovels coal into the firebox of steam Engine No. 481 on Saturday before the locomotive pulled out of the depot for its last coal-fueled trip to Cascade Canyon and back. The locomotive will be converted to burn oil, which is a cleaner and less labor-intensive fuel source than coal. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

D&SNG General Manager Jeff Johnson said the railroad has used coal-burning engines since 1891. Engine No. 481 was built in 1925 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western (the previous name of D&SNG between 1881 and 1981) as part of a 10-engine order.<\/p>\n

The old-school fuel resource is as significant to the railroad\u2019s history as the railroad is to the history of Durango. Al Harper, owner of D&SNG, has long held that the railroad would never give up coal.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Harper said he \u201chates\u201d retiring the historic coal engines, but he is excited about getting the railroad on the right track for the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s most important is that the railroad is really healthy. And I think that we\u2019ve adjusted and we\u2019re set so that we\u2019ll be here for generations to come regardless,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s more important than coal or oil. It\u2019s important that (D&SNG) is here forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Several
Several tons of coal sit in a rail car behind the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad coal-burning steam Engine No. 481 on Saturday. The locomotive will be taken into the shop and converted to burn oil instead of coal. It is the last of the railroad\u2019s coal engines to be converted to oil, a process that started in 2020 in the aftermath of the 416 Fire of 2018. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Johnson said the railroad began converting its coal trains to oil-burning engines in 2020 in the long aftermath of the 416 Fire of 2018.<\/p>\n

The fire started on June 1, 2018, and burned about 54,000 acres north of Durango for two months before it was contained on July 31, 2018. The railroad agreed to a $20 million settlement<\/a> in a federal lawsuit in 2022.<\/p>\n

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