Sublette, New Mexico facts for kids
Sublette is a railroad ghost town in northern Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. It was built in 1880 as a small station for railroad workers. You can find it north-east of Chama, close to the Colorado border. It's high up in the mountains, about 9,281 feet (2,829 meters) above sea level!
Sublette was once part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. This railroad used special "narrow gauge" tracks, which are narrower than regular train tracks. When the railroad stopped using these lines in the late 1960s, two parts were saved. One is the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which still runs through Sublette today. The other is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
History of Sublette
The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad started Sublette in 1880. It was first a camp for workers building the railroad's "San Juan Branch." This was a special line with narrow gauge tracks.
What was Sublette for?
After the railroad line was finished, Sublette became a "section crew station town." This means it was a base for the workers who kept the train tracks in good shape. These workers were called the section crew.
The town had several buildings:
- A section house for the foreman (the boss) and his family.
- Two bunkhouses where the other section crew members slept.
- A coal bunker to store coal for the trains.
- A speeder shed for small rail vehicles used to inspect tracks.
- A water tower to fill up steam trains with water.
Sublette Today
The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad ran trains through Sublette until 1967. Then, in 1970, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad took over the old tracks between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. Now, they run fun tourist trains there during the summer.
A group called the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec helps take care of the old buildings in Sublette. They want to keep these historic places safe for the future. The original water tower was taken down in 1937. It was replaced with an underground tank. Today, Cumbres & Toltec trains still stop here to get water.
Nearby Places to See
- Osier, Colorado 37°0′44″N 106°20′9″W / 37.01222°N 106.33583°W
- Toltec Gorge, New Mexico 36°59′3.9″N 106°18′22.2″W / 36.984417°N 106.306167°W
