Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad facts for kids
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| Overview | |
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| Headquarters | Chama, New Mexico |
| Reporting mark | C&TS |
| Locale | Conejos County and Archuleta County in Colorado and Rio Arriba County in New Mexico, United States |
| Dates of operation | 1970–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Length | 64 mi (103 km) |
| Other | |
| Website | |
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Denver & Rio Grande Railroad
San Juan Extension |
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 Location in Colorado
Location in New Mexico
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| Nearest city | Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico |
| Area | 1,430 acres (5.8 km2) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| MPS | Railroads in Colorado, 1858-1948 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000462 (original) 07000374 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1973 |
| Boundary increase | April 24, 2007 |
| Designated NHLD | October 16, 2012 |
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, or C&TSRR, is a special narrow-gauge train line. It runs for 64 miles (103 km) between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, in the United States. This railroad is famous for its beautiful views. It gets its name from two places along the way: the high Cumbres Pass (over 10,000 feet tall!) and the deep Toltec Gorge.
This train line used to be part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's narrow-gauge system. Since 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico have owned it together. Today, the C&TSRR is one of only two parts left of that old train network. The other is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The C&TSRR has many cool trains, including ten steam locomotives and two diesel locomotives. Some of these old steam engines are still working today!
Contents
History of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Building the San Juan Extension, which is part of today's C&TSRR, began on February 20, 1880. Workers for the Denver and Rio Grande Railway (D&RG) started laying tracks south from Alamosa, Colorado. They reached Antonito, Colorado, in March of that year. The company chose a "narrow gauge" track, which is three feet wide. This was cheaper to build than the "standard gauge" (four feet eight and a half inches). Narrow gauge tracks can also make sharper turns. This allowed the train to go through tough mountain areas.
From Antonito, the line continued west to Chama, New Mexico, arriving on December 31, 1880. This 64-mile journey went through two tunnels and over a 10,015-foot mountain pass. It also went along a 600-foot deep gorge. The main goal of this line was to reach the valuable minerals near Silverton, Colorado.
When the railroad arrived in Chama, other companies started using the local forests. This led to a busy logging business in the town. Lumber mills near Chama provided a steady income for the railroad. This lasted until the late 1960s.
After World War II, there was an oil boom in Farmington, New Mexico. This brought a lot of money to the railroad. Long trains full of oil pipes traveled west from Antonito. Oil from southern Colorado also went from Chama to Antonito. The lumber business also helped keep the railroad going. This extra money saved the line from being shut down.
However, there were challenges. The biggest problem was Cumbres Pass itself. At 10,015 feet high, the pass gets huge snowstorms. The railroad had to buy special "rotary snowplows" to clear the tracks. These giant plows, named Rotary OM and Rotary OY, are still in Chama today. Every few years, Cumbres Pass can get up to 500 inches of snow! These storms cost the railroad a lot of money. The worst winter was in 1951–1952. This heavy snow was a big reason why the railroad thought about closing the line in the 1960s.
In September 1968, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad decided to abandon its narrow-gauge lines. But in April 1969, New Mexico passed a law to buy the track between Chama and Antonito. Colorado did the same in 1970. The two states then owned the line together. By 1971, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was officially created.
Important Events on the Line
2002 Closures
In 2002, the C&TSRR had to close twice. First, in the spring, they fixed problems with the track bed (the ground under the tracks). Then, in the summer, they stopped trains because of a high risk of wildfires.
Lobato Trestle Fire
On June 23, 2010, a fire badly damaged Lobato Trestle. This is a bridge about four miles (6.4 km) east of Chama. While the bridge was being fixed, trains from Chama could only go a short distance. Trains from Antonito only went to Osier and back. The bridge was fully repaired and reopened on June 20, 2011.
A National Historic Landmark
In 1973, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site. In 2012, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This special title recognizes its amazing engineering, well-kept tracks and trains, and its role in helping the region grow.
Riding the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Today
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad runs from late May to late October. Each morning, two trains leave, one from Antonito, Colorado, and one from Chama, New Mexico. Both trains meet in Osier, Colorado for lunch. Passengers eat in a modern dining hall. After lunch, you can choose to continue to the other end of the line. Or, you can switch trains and go back to where you started.
When the train going west reaches Cumbres Pass, you can take a bus back to Antonito. This saves about an hour. Hikers on the Continental Divide Trail can also get a ride down the mountain from the pass. At the end of the day, buses are available at both ends to take passengers back to their starting point. The bus ride takes about an hour.
Besides regular trips, the C&TSRR also has special events. These include dinner trains. During the holiday season, they offer "Santa Trains" from Chama and Antonito. Guests are asked to bring gifts or food for people who need help.
Who Runs the Railroad?
When the C&TSRR started in 1971, a special group called the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission was formed. This group, made up of people from both states, hired companies to run the trains. In 2012, the Commission decided to create its own company, Cumbres and Toltec Operating LLC. They hired John Bush, who knew a lot about the railroad, to be its president.
Friends of the C&TSRR
In 1988, a group called the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was started. This nonprofit organization helps keep the railroad's history alive. They also help maintain the tracks and trains. The Friends group also has education programs. They provide guides, called docents, who share interesting facts about the railroad and its history with passengers.
Exploring the Route
Places Along the Line
- Chama, New Mexico 36°54′N 106°35′W / 36.900°N 106.583°W
- Cumbres Pass 37°1′N 106°27′W / 37.017°N 106.450°W
- Osier, Colorado 37°1′N 106°20′W / 37.017°N 106.333°W
- Toltec Gorge, New Mexico 36°59′N 106°18′W / 36.983°N 106.300°W
- Sublette Station 36°59′N 106°14′W / 36.983°N 106.233°W
- Antonito, Colorado 37°4′N 106°1′W / 37.067°N 106.017°W
From Chama to Osier
Chama Yard
The Chama yard is where the railroad keeps most of its freight cars. You can also see the two giant rotary snowplows, Rotary OY and Rotary OM, here. Part of the old roundhouse, where trains were turned around, is still there. It's now used for storage. The shops are where engines are fixed and prepared for their next trip. You can walk around the yard and see over 100 freight cars. About 40 of them can still be used!
From Chama, the train goes northeast and crosses the Rio Chama river. About one mile (1.6 km) later, the tracks start climbing the mountain at a steep angle. The first stop is Lobato. Here you can see parts of an old animal pen and a water tank. This tank was built for a movie in the 1980s, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The Lobato Trestle is also here. It's the second-highest bridge on the line. Only one train engine can cross it at a time because of its age. The bridge was rebuilt in 2011 after a fire.
From Lobato to Cumbres, the train follows Wolf Creek. You'll pass old station signs at Dalton and Cresco. Just before Cresco, the track crosses into Colorado for the first time. There's a water tank at Cresco used for smaller engines. The route then enters a small canyon and turns northwest. It goes through Coxo, where there's a short track for maintenance. At Windy Point, the wind blows so hard that the train's smoke often goes forward instead of backward! This spot is very close to Cumbres Pass.
At Cumbres (10,015 feet high), you're at the highest point on the railroad. It's also the highest point for any narrow-gauge railroad in North America! Here, the train's engine takes on water because it has used most of its supply. After a quick stop, the train starts going downhill. At "Tanglefoot Curve," the track loops back on itself to lose height slowly. This is where the train releases steam from its boiler to clean out dirt. The track then turns north into the Los Piños Valley.
The train continues a gentle downhill ride to the Los Piños water tank. This tank is always full and used for smaller engines. The track then loops around and comes back to the station of Los Piños. There's just a track and a sign here. The train then heads north towards Osier, Colorado. Just before Osier, you'll cross Cascade Trestle. This is the highest bridge on the whole line, sitting 137 ft (42 m) above the river! Finally, the train stops at Osier, Colorado, where passengers have lunch.
From Antonito to Osier
This part of the journey covers the eastern side of the line. It goes from the small town of Antonito to Osier, which is the middle point of the line.
Antonito is a small town that used to be a main hub for the old railroad. It has the C&TSRR car shop, a water tank, and other old train items. Most of these buildings were built by the C&TSRR itself. The original train yard and station were not sold to Colorado and New Mexico.
After leaving Antonito, the train goes straight for three miles (4.8 km) before reaching some hills. Soon after, it crosses Ferguson's Trestle. This bridge was named after a man who was executed there. The original bridge was in a 1988 TV movie. During filming, an explosion accidentally burned it down! The railroad quickly built a temporary bridge. The next winter, a new bridge was built to look just like the old one. About three miles (four point eight kilometres) later, the train crosses into New Mexico for the first of 11 times. It then climbs onto a high lava plateau. At Lava, you'll see the old water tank from Antonito, moved here in 1971. The track goes around a horseshoe curve. This curve is also used to turn the giant rotary snowplow trains.
Heading west, the train goes around Whiplash Curve, which is a double horseshoe shape. About one mile (1,600 m) from there are the tracks and turning area at Big Horn. After Big Horn, the train winds around mountains, going through more horseshoe curves. Then it reaches the first water stop at Sublette.
Sublette is an old, abandoned railroad camp. It has a log bunk house, a section house, and other buildings. There used to be a water tank here, but now there's a standpipe to fill the train's water tank. After getting water, the train slowly moves into beautiful aspen forests.
After Sublette is Toltec Siding. In the 1950s, this was where oil pipe trains met. Soon after, trains go through Mud Tunnel. This tunnel is special because it's lined with wooden poles. It was dug through soft volcanic ash. If the wooden beams collapsed, the railroad would build a temporary bypass track. After this, trains pass Phantom Curve and through Calico Cut. Then they slow down to enter the longer Rock Tunnel. When trains leave this tunnel, they enter Toltec Gorge. Here, the track is 600 ft (180 m) above the river! The line then follows the river all the way to Osier.
- Line's terminus in Antonito
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The entrance to the C&TS yard in Antonito, October 2012
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The station and shed in Antonito, October 2012
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The water tower in Antonito, October 2012
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The yard in Antonito, October 2012
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The station building in Antonito, October 2012
- Line's terminus in Chama
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The coaling tower in Chama, October 2012
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The water tower in Chama, October 2012
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The shop in Chama, October 2012
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The yard in Chama, October 2012
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The depot in Chama, October 2012
Train Engines and Cars
The C&TSRR has many different types of trains. They have both old-fashioned steam locomotives and modern diesel locomotives. They also have special cars for passengers and freight.
Steam Locomotives
All the steam locomotives on the C&TSRR used to belong to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The railroad has three main types of steam engines: K-27, K-36, and K-37. These are all "Mikado" engines, meaning they have a specific wheel setup (2-8-2). They were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. As of 2023, five of the ten steam locomotives are working: Nos. 463, 484, 487, 488, and 489.
Locomotive 497, a K-37 engine, was fixed up in 1984 for another railroad. It was traded to the C&TSRR in 1991. It stopped working in 2002 and is currently stored in the Chama roundhouse. The railroad is now working on restoring locomotive 492 to working condition instead of 497.
In 2019, locomotive 489 (a K-36) needed a big check-up. The work stopped in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When work started again, the railroad decided to change locomotive 489 to burn oil instead of coal. This helps the train run better in different weather. This change was finished in June 2021. In 2022, they decided to change another K-36 engine, locomotive 487, to burn oil too.
The T-12 No. 168 is an older steam engine, built in 1883. It's the oldest steam locomotive the railroad uses! It was fixed up in 2019 and now runs on special trips. Another engine, D&RGW No. 315, also runs on the railroad. It's owned by another historical society but is on loan to the C&TSRR until at least 2025. No. 315 was restored in 2007 and is used for special trips on both the C&TSRR and the D&SNG. It had another check-up in 2021 and returned to service in 2023.
Diesel Locomotives
The C&TSRR has two diesel locomotives, Nos. 15 and 19. They were built in 1943 and are used for emergencies or when the steam trains aren't running. Both came from the Oahu Railway and Land Company. No. 19 was bought in 1972 and is in Antonito. No. 15 was bought in 2013 and is in Chama. In 2023, the C&TSRR also got another diesel engine from a different railroad.
Rotary Snowplows
The C&TSRR owns two huge steam-powered rotary snowplows, Rotary OY and Rotary OM. These machines have giant spinning blades to cut through deep snow. Rotary OM was bought in the late 1800s but hasn't run since the 1970s. Rotary OY was built in the 1920s and last ran in 2020 for the railroad's 50th anniversary. It's still in good shape!
D&RGW No. 168
In 2016, D&RGW No. 168 arrived in Antonito to be fixed up. It had been on display in a park for a long time. The restoration started in March 2017 and finished in October 2019. This project cost over $500,000 and took more than two years! The railroad plans to use this engine often for regular trips. As of 2023, No. 168 is still used for special trips on the C&TSRR.
Passenger Cars
The C&TSRR has different types of passenger cars. Some have flat roofs, and others have raised sections called "clerestory" roofs. The inside of the cars matches the three types of tickets you can buy: Coach, Deluxe, and Parlor. In 2019, the car shop in Antonito started making new clerestory cars. This is to replace older cars. The C&TSRR also has open-air observation cars (called gondolas) and special cars for people using wheelchairs. Some cars also have snack areas.
What's on a Typical Train?
A normal C&TSRR train usually includes:
- One K-27, K-36, or K-37 2-8-2 steam locomotive. Sometimes a second engine is added if the train is very long.
- Three Coach cars (sometimes more if there are many passengers).
- One special car for people with disabilities and a snack area.
- One open-air observation car.
- One Deluxe class car.
- One Parlor class car.
Freight Cars
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad also has many old freight cars. These were once used by the D&RGW to carry goods. They are now kept for display and sometimes used for special historical train rides.
See also
- D & RG Narrow Gauge Trestle
- List of Colorado historic railroads
- List of Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad lines
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- Narrow-gauge railroads in the United States
- San Juan Express
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Colorado § Archuleta County
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Conejos County, Colorado
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Colorado
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New Mexico
