Home Ranch is a 1000 foot siding at milepost 457.3 on the Silverton Branch added by the Durango & Silverton in 1982 to accomodate the increase in trains and provide an additional spot for meets. (The Pinkerton, CO siding was also added at the same time and for the same reason.)

Prior to the modern siding, Osterwald notes in "Cinders & Smoke" that there was a spur called Home Ranch at milepost 457.9 at some point in the distant past. It apparently was used as a livestock loading spur. Construction and abandonment dates unknown.

In early 2009, the Durango & Silverton began construction of a wye south of Home Ranch siding, near milepost 456.6, that will be used to turn short run "theme trains" for kids. This will allow a short trip from Durango without a long reverse move back to the yard. Photos of the construction can be seen here.

Maps and Photos

Photos from Home Ranch