Found this posted on a discussion group devoted to the Durango & Silverton. Sounds like the D&S may be eliminating some excess freight cars to make way for parking.

Howdy,

Today's Durango, CO, Herald Business section, www.durangoherald.com/index_business.asp , has an article on a land swap between the D&SNGRR and the City of Durango. While this is not a new idea or breaking story, it appears to be heating up and heading for some serious discussions between the RR and the City. I'd be surprised if at least tentative decisions aren't made this year.

Of potential interest to the preservation community are the 30 former D&RGW narrow gauge cars stored on 2 yard tracks on the land the City wants for expanded parking. These wood, steel-framed cars are in various stages of disrepair and neglect but most could be restored and the trucks of those not preserved could find uses in Museums or under private cars like the camp car along the north side of US 50 between Monarch Pass and Montrose - *IF THEY ARE TO BE SOLD*! And, at this point, only the honchos at D&S know for sure!

There are a homemade water car, a gondola, 3 flat cars, 4 stock cars, and about 20 side dump gondolas among the approximately 30 cars involved. I'll have photos of a selection of these cars by mid week if anyone wants to see them.

Happy Hunting, Roger
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S. Roger Kirkpatrick, 109 S. Madison St., Cortez, CO 81321

ryarger@rypn.org

From the paper itself.

http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=biz&article_path=/business/biz040418_2.htm
ryarger@rypn.org

http://www.ngdiscussion.net/cgi-bin/NGDFcook.pl?noframes;read=41454
ryarger@rypn.org