MTFCA Forum

Was in Silverton CO recently. Old mining town in the Rockies. Most of the streets are still all dirt. Narrow gauge railroad with steam engines still in operation. Saloon's. Was like stepping back in time. Walking out of one of the Saloon's, I heard an unmistakable putputput. There chugging down the street it was. Wasn't able to talk with them, whether locals or tourists, but there it was, at 9300', like it'd been there forever.

The roads and mountain passes that you have to travel to Silverton are not for the faint of heart, Red mountain, Moles and Coal bank passes. If these folks are out-of -towner's More power to them! A beautiful drive this time of year.

In 1967 there were at least 4 junked Model T's in Silverton...just sitting out in fields. Very very few people there year 'round and definitely not a tourist destination. Other than a snack shop that opened JUST for the train. There were several buildings wide open to wander through including a general store which was empty save for the big brass cash register. Back then, no one considered touching anything that wasn't theirs.
The D&RGW ran scheduled passenger trains from Durango and at that time it was not a tourist line (meaning it was not the "Durango and Silverton" line) and if you wanted to hang out of or off of the cars while in motion, then more power to you - they'd notify next of kin. Same with the roundhouse in Durango - keep your hands in your pockets and stay out of the way and you could pretty much go/see whatever you wanted to.

Scott, I was there in '68, several times in the 80's, and this month. It's never changed. Totally closed down before & after the train arrives/departs. I had to introduce my wife to several of the regional offload trails, white knuckles & all she was, even if they were all the easy ones. But she was more afraid of the last descent into Ouray on the Million Dollar Hiway!
But the colors were incredible!

I did Engineer Pass from Animas Forks out of Silverton, to Ouray in May, in a rented Bronco. Too big of a vehicle, driven by too green of a driver. I spent 2 days at B&B in my room sick from stress...

The stupid things we do as kids...

Growing up, as well as an adult, I/we were avid 4wheelers all over the West. I've done all the Animas loop/Engineer, as well as Black Bear, Ophir, etc etc in that region. I had to keep it to the easy routes this trip 1) with a wife who'd never experienced such, and 2) I was driving my 2wheel drive F150 (but with a locker...not that you really needed 4x4 where we went).

I did take her up to the ghost town at Animas Forks, but not any further. It was snowing that day. The other two roads I took her on was the ghost town/lakes at Alta and the Last Dollar Road.

I guess it was back in ‘94 when the wife & I enjoyed the SE corner of Colorado. As I’m a live steam fan, we rode the train from Durango to Silverton. Was told the fireman shoveled nearly 2 tons of coal for the train to increase in elevation into Silverton. No wonder his shoulders seemed 5 feet wide. When we arrived, there was a man in a Model T depot hack giving rides around the environs while giving a mining history of the town. I stopped his canned spiel and changed the conversation to Model Ts. Wasn’t his last name Green ? Anyway, he was a retired from NASA Texan and rare year ‘round resident. Thanks for reviving that memory for me.

We visited Silverton two years ago and saw a Model T Touring. It was parked next to a building that was on a side road. Maybe this is the same car.

My first trip there (hmm must have been like twenty years ago now that I think about it) I saw a model T snowmobile conversion for the first time, but heck if I can find the pictures. It was a faded blue touring with no roof and appeared to be more of a yard art piece, kinda in a public section of town, On some more recent trips, now that I know what I was looking at, of course I couldn’t find it. Gotta dig around for those pics! There must be enthusiasts around Durango as well as Michael’s area that end up up there and I imagine locals at the time were thrilled to be able to use T and A snow mobile conversions when they were introduced.
Thanks for posting the awesome photos, leaf peeing out here is right up there with the northeast, I think. For sure those roads are amazing but not for the faint of heart! Scotts take is right on as well, I’ve had several broncos which never seemed too big until they were! Many times, especially on the passes around there that I wished I had been in a jeep. Oh well, thats how we get those “Colorado pin stripes” and tell who’s lifted truck actually leaves the highway…-Chris, in Boulder

We saw the Touring car when we took the narrow gauge into Silverton.
A few days later we passed thru again on our way up to Animas Forks, and spotted yet another T. It was parked along the main road, I knocked on the door of the house, but NA.

The faded blue snowmobile was there when I passed through in 2021

Dang, I missed the snowmobile. But neither did I go on all the sidestreets. Who knows, maybe its the local winter get around vehicle! LOL

This is good tonic for an old man who misses the West.

Steve, I hear ya. I was born & raised rural CA... put your finger on a map anywhere in the 13 western states and I've been near it, passed thru it, camped it, backpacked it, 4wheeled it, swam it, canoe'd it, kayak'd it, ski'd it or flew to it. AT&T moved me to GA decades ago, married me a true Southern Peach, who never had travelled before. Now retired, our vacation destinations focus on introducing her to everything West. Her motto is "never been, let's go!" Tami''s a good scout, even if there were times she wasn't too sure! LOL I will forever miss the West, mountains, deserts, waters.

Wow, thank you for sharing those amazing views, enjoy your travels!