Because of a steam engine that experienced mechanical problems on Monday, residents who live near the tracks may have heard a train roll through Durango late Monday night. Paul Schrank, senior vice president of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, explained what happened.
The first of four trains that departed Durango on Monday morning arrived in Silverton on schedule but was held up when engineers discovered a faulty spring during an inspection of the steam locomotive.
Crew members removed the steam engine and coupled a replacement diesel engine to the passenger cars, which delayed each return to Durango by an hour, with the fourth departure arriving at the station around 7:30 p.m.
The engine that was removed remained in Silverton throughout the day while engineers resolved the mechanical issue, and it rolled back into Durango late Monday night.
The steam engine functioned normally during its return and is scheduled to run again Wednesday morning.
fstone@durangoherald.com
