The Rockwood Cut: It's a tight fit! Our 2021 Trains Magazine charter on the Durango & Silverton wrapped up with the photo train, pulled by K-37 #493, arriving back at Rockwood Station, where most of the patrons had parked their cars. After all of the passengers were off the train and all of our equipment had been unloaded, the train crew let it be known that they would be doing one last run-by for us before departing for Durango. Engineer Mike May backed his train through the Rockwood Cut (MP 469.15) and then made a spirited charge through that same cut, albeit at the track speed of perhaps 10 mph. Still, this was about as exciting a run-by as you will ever see here, with a powerful looking plume and some very loud stack-talk echoing through the cut.
As you can see, the Rockwood Cut is a very tight fit for even these narrow gauge trains. Pay attention to the signs on either side of it. Folks who are thinking of venturing out on the High Line should know that walking through the Rockwood Cut is not a safe way to get there. You cannot hear the trains coming until they are almost upon you, and you can see clearly in this photo that there is no space for pedestrians in that cut.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
