It all started in 1880, when the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) needed a southern hub to service Silverton and other towns and mines in the San Juan Mining District. Animas City was the first choice, but when they were unwilling to meet the terms of the D&RG, the railroad simply went two miles south and created its own town- Durango. The railroad and ore smelters were constructed, and the town sprung up around the new industry. Many entrepreneurs came to Durango, opening hotels, restaurants, and a variety of shops selling goods and services. The decision made by Animas City to reject the railroad proved fatal. They lost businesses and residents to the new town of Durango, and Animas City is now just a part of north Durango.

As the mining operations in the San Juan Mountains dried up, many of the cities along the line became ghost towns, with only Silverton surviving today. Fortunately, even from its beginning, passengers realized the unsurpassed beauty of the country the train winds through. In 1961, the train was designated as a National Historic Landmark. And today it's passengers, not ore, that the train carries between Durango and Silverton.

Over 125 years after it founded the city, the train is still a major impact on the economy of Durango, providing a huge tourist draw. No trip to Durango is complete without experiencing the train, and over 165,000 passengers per year would seem to agree.