The reason 315 ended up in Silverton.... After Bringing her back to life in '07, The D&S had no place to store her, at that time she legally belonged to the City of Durango. I believe that there was an insurance conflict of liability. The pavilion in the park has NO RAIL access, so to run 315 she would have had to be craned onto a truck to gain access to the D&S rails ( a very expensive activity).
The DRHS at the time, explored numerous trackside locations within the city proper to store her and set up a pavilion to display and educate. The city of Durango, had no available trackside land, and the D&S was selling off parts of their ROW and sidings within the city proper. No suitable location was available Until way out of town ( up towards Hermosa) to far out for a decent display location, AND the likelihood of vandalism.
The DRHS reached an agreement for joint usage of the Silverton Northern Engine house with the San Juan Historical Socity in Silverton. The location had access to the D&S trackage thru the Shenandoah Loop, and the DRHS relaid the trackage into the engine house. This provided a place for maintenance and out of the weather winter storage, inside and protected from un-savory characters.
Later the city of Durango, transferred ownership 315 to the DRHS. Part of the agreement with the city to remove 315 from the park was that the DRHS would be required to provide the city with a historical significant artifact to be placed within the park privation.
DRHS purchased Emma Sweeny to replace 315s place in the park, and then set off to restore her back to her look for the "Ticket to Tomahawk" Movie. Thousands of man hours were spent rebuilding little parts and pieces that had been missing over the years. Most all the valves and controls, even though reproduced of wood and metal, in the cab, operated and moved just like the real things, Straight Air valve, Johnson Bar, Sander, The Bell would rotate and the clapper would actually THUNK, Brake lever, and the Throttle worked just like the real thing, but made of wood and a bit here and there of metal and plastic. All Recreated from the original 20th Century Fox's blue prints. it's these parts and pieces that take so long to fabricate, if we can find someone to be able to do the work. ( I Guess I'm lucky, cause all the pieces I made are still there). It's not just the $$, but all the skill thets needed to make new pieces. ie: $30 dollars of oak, and 120hrs of labor, and you have a new workable Johnson Bar and working ratchet and the notched base to connect it to...
Dave Taylor
DHRS BOD
315 Crew
