Past Events
2007
August 23: Railfest. Although not yet quite ready to run, the 315 was pulled out of the roundhouse to the delight of the crowd at the President’s Reception. Yvonne Lashmett
August 24; Railfest. The restored 315 steams out of the roundhouse under its own power for the first time in 58 years. Darel Crawford
September 7. Ready for its first road test, running light (pulling no train). Yvonne Lashmett
September 18. The 315 is taking a train to Cascade Canyon for its first load test. Jim Granflaten
September 26. On its first public excursion, in Animas Canyon at the north end of Elk Park with the Grenadier Range in the background. Darel Crawford
September 28. On the third day of excursions, the 315 heads back to Durango on the High Line, 200 feet above the river. Darel Crawford
October 7. Flying American flags on the Appreciation Run for volunteers and supporters who were responsible for restoring the 315, courtesy of D&SNG and the Durango Chamber of Commerce. John Manley
2008
June 16. The first excursion on the C&TS, here descending from Lava Mesa. Jim Granflaten
June 18. The second excursion on C&TS, for an evening dinner and moonlight photos; hereon the high desert. John Parker
July 7. The consist on the fifth excursion on C&TS was a train of stock cars. Paul Hogan
July 7. Emerging westbound from the Rock Tunnel. Stefan Niederauer
July 7. Night photo shoot in Chama – photo looks like it could have been taken in the 1930s, except for the sign on the water tank. Michael Ripley
July 9. The sixth excursion on C&TS, climbing out of Chama eastbound to Cumbres. John West
August 20. Back in the Durango roundhouse, where the 315 was serviced. Michael Ripley
August 22, Railfest. Galloping Goose #5 from Dolores passes by the 315 at Cascade Canyon. David Fluit
August 23, Railfest. The 315 sits across Tenth Street for a photo op with 473 (with flags because it pulled the Presidential Special) and 481 on the main track. Jim Granflaten
2009
September 3. Private charter on C&TS crosses Cascade Trestle on its way to Cumbres to pick up more cars for the trip to Antonito. George Niederauer
September 13. Excursion on preceding the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Colorado Springs, crossing the San Luis Valley with 14,345-ft Mount Blanca in the background. Russell Sperry
September 13. Night shoot at the C&TS coal tower. Michael Ripley
September 14. Before Phantom Curve with a consist of loaded flat cars on the way to Cumbres. David Dye
2010
August 20, Railfest. For the first time since the 1950s a passenger train in green and lettered with D&RGW goes to Silverton, here crossing the Silverton trestle. John West
August 20. A view south in Animas Canyon from near Silverton. John West
August 21. The parade of trains ended at the Durango depot with the 1895 D&RGW 315 side by side with the 1875 wood burning Eureka, and the 1933 Goose No. 5. Yvonne Lashmett
2011
We did not run 315 in 2011. It was on display at the Silverton Northern engine house during Railfest, and we held an evening night shoot with both the 315 and the Casey Jones railcar in front of the engine house on Friday, August 19.
Maintenance work was performed during that week. During the first two days, the 315 was inside the engine house. While it was over the engine pit, we removed binders and replaced the oil pads in all the journal boxes and adjusted the wedges in the pedestals. Two modern brake pipe valves were replaced with genuine Westinghouse valves. An internal valve in the G-6 automatic brake valve was lapped.
Then the 315 was moved outside the engine house. Among the activities, the rear air compressor and throttle valve assembly were removed for inspection and maintenance.
2012
We did not run the 315 in 2012. It was on display at the Silverton Northern engine house during Railfest, along with the railcar Casey Jones (owned by the San Juan County Historical Society) in front of the engine house and the restored drop bottom gondola D&RGW 871 nearby during August 17–19.