The Silverton Railroad was the first of several railroad projects by Otto Mears, the famed Pathfinder of the San Juans. Construction of the line began in 1887 and reached Burro Bridge by early November, when work was halted for the winter. The route followed a survey made by the Denver & Rio Grande up Mineral Creek to climb Red Mountain Pass to reach the incredibly rich mining district around Red Mountain Town. Construction resumed and service began the following year, and the line reached Ironton in November. The line reached its greatest extent in September 1889 with the completion from Ironton of a spur to a mill at Albany.