Jinx knows her 4-Corners! Yep, there's an old time steam locomotive that will take folks from Durango to Silverton for an exorbitant fee. There is also another steam locomotive which runs thru some specatacular scenary between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico (also for an exorbitant fee). Up Telluride way, your choices are car, on foot, cross country ski's in winter months, or by the gondola between Telluride and the ski resort of Mountain Village. The gondola has the side benefit of being completely free of charge and runs constantly from like 6:00am to midnight (don't quote me, it may be in operation even more than that). The cars are enclosed in plexi-glass and in the cold months, friendly workers will even hand you a blanket to take along for your ride if you want. There are special cars reserved for people with their pets in case you want to take Fido along to view the scenary.
In many ways Telluride is a pretty cool town. It has a "free box" just off its main street where the wealthy folks who stay in the condos in Mountain View can drop off unwanted items for the rest of us. I've made some incredible finds there - like 100 brand new stuffed animals that I snapped up one Christmas and donated to the kids whose folks come to pick up food boxes in the desperate little town of Nucla, 60 miles away. Its got an incredible public library which offers an amazing variety of stuff for no charge and, of course, it has the summer music festivals which I have learned how to attend for absolutely free. Have heard many of my fav musicians and groups there.
On the downside, Telluride has winter. I don't like winter and I'm not a down hill skier type - cross country works fine for me and that I can do anywhere there's snow which Telluride gets in ridiculous excess (I draw the line after a foot or so). It also takes the income of a minor member of the Saudi royal family to rent or buy housing there. And it doesn't have a train.
