Denver and Southwestern Railroad

Donald R. Paulson
President and General manager
Ouray, Colorado
drpaulsonouray@gmail.com

The model railroad described below no longer exists. In October of 2024 we sold our house in Ouray where the 30' x 40' layout was located. It was dismantled in the Spring of 2024. We bought a small house in Altadena CA in January of 2025. I have just completed a 4' x 7' HOn3 switching railroad in this new house. A photo of this layout is shown below.

Just before I dismantled my Ouray layout I made a number of videos showing all areas of the Ouray layout. You can see these on my youtube page:

https://www.youtube.com/user/drpaulson1

The standard gauge D&SW begins in Denver and heads southwest to Salida, west to Gunnison and then south to Santa Fe where it connects with the Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF). Since the AT&SF and the Southern Pacific (SP) jointly own the D&SW, you will often see their engines and equipment.

The D&SW is a very healthy railroad with coal, lumber, mining and agricultural products providing most of the shipments. Passenger business is booming as well. In recent weeks the daily Denver-Santa Fe Express has left Salida with two sections. Since the time period of the railroad is the early 1950s, you will thus see both steam and diesel power on the D&SW.

The Narrow Gauge Division of the D&SW proceeds from Gunnison to Lake City and then winds through the San Juan mountains via Ouray, Red Mountain and Silverton. A new extension provides service through Placerville and Ophir with the completion of the new high bridge between those two towns. The San Juan Southern (a wholly owned subsidiary of the D&SW) provides a second route from Ouray to Silverton via Animas Forks and the rich mines of the area. The mining, lumber, coal and annual stock movements providing enough shipments to keep the narrow gauge alive.