Al Harper: If all goes according to plan, train will never shut down again because of fire danger

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Al Harper, owner of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, says if all goes according to plan, the historic railway that draws thousands of tourists to Southwest Colorado will not have another disastrous summer like this year’s.

In June and July, the railway did not run for more than 40 days, after the massive 416 Fire broke out June 1. Extreme drought gave rise to extreme fire danger, prompting La Plata County to enact restrictions that ban coal-fired engines. As the fire burned in the San Juan National Forest, Harper’s fleet of six coal-fired steam engines sat idle in a railyard, unable to infuse thousands of dollars into the Durango and Silverton economies.

The losses were so great that Harper had no choice but to adapt to ensure his company could operate during extreme droughts. So now, the railroad is spending as much as $6 million on oil- and diesel-powered engines that will stand in for the train’s traditional coal-fired engines, which are infamous for sending off cinders and starting fires.

In the future, the D&SNG plans to consult with the U.S. Forest Service, local fire districts and La Plata County to determine if weather conditions pose too high a fire risk to run coal-fired engines.

“This is a momentous task,” Harper said. “But we will never be shut down again for fires.”