1. History

2. Current operations
    Operator changes  Friends of the C&TS  Notable incidents  2002 shutdowns  Lobato trestle fire  National Historic Landmark 

3. Rolling stock
    Locomotives  D&RGW #168  Passenger Cars 

4. In popular culture

5. Route description
    Locations along the line  Chama to Osier  Antonito to Osier 

6. See also

7. References

8. External links

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The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is a {{Track gauge|3ft|lk=on}} narrow-gauge heritage railroad running for {{convert|64|mi}} between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico, United States. The railroad gets its name from two geographical features along the route, the {{convert|10,015|ft|adj=on}}-high Cumbres Pass and the Toltec Gorge. Originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's narrow-gauge network, the line has been jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico since 1970.

History

The rail line over which the Cumbres & Toltec operates was constructed in 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) as part of their San Juan extension stretching from Alamosa, Colorado to Durango, Colorado. The line was originally built to support mining operations in the San Juan Mountains, mainly around Durango and Silverton. By the mid 20th century, the ore traffic had dwindled but the line continued to support various agricultural and industrial operations until the 1960s.

In 1968, freight traffic was virtually gone and the railroad began the process of abandoning the line. However, the states of Colorado and New Mexico purchased the 64 mile portion between Antonito and Chama in 1970 and began excursion services on the route as the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.^[4]

Current operations

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad operates between late May and late October with two trains (one in each direction) departing each morning from Antonito and Chama. Both trains are timed to meet at Osier, an old section town located about halfway along the route, for a lunch stop. Afterwards, passengers continue with their train to its destination or switch trains to return to their original terminal. Through riders are returned to their starting place by motorcoach after the train arrives at its destination.

In addition to the through service, the C&TS operates various special excursions during the season such as dinner trains.^[5] During the holiday season, the railroad offers a special "Santa Train"^[6] and guests are encouraged to bring gifts and/or food for the less fortunate.

Operator changes

After the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was formed, a bi-state agency, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission was created and railroad operations were then contracted to third party rail operators. In 2012, the Commission formed its own operating company, Cumbres & Toltec Operating LLC,^[7] with the hiring of John Bush as president on December 13, 2012.^[8]

Friends of the C&TS

In 1988, a nonprofit organization called Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the history of the railroad and help maintain infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TS also participate in various education programs and provides the railroad guides, known as docents, who inform passengers about historical aspects of the railroad as well as locations of interest.^[9]

Notable incidents

2002 shutdowns

In 2002, the C&TS was shut down twice, first in the spring to resolve track bed issues. In the summer, operations were suspended again because of wildfire dangers.^[10]

Lobato trestle fire

On June 23, 2010, an unknown fire severely damaged Lobato Trestle, a deck girder bridge located about 4 miles east of Chama. While the bridge was out of order, the C&TS operated limited services from the Chama end while trains from Antonito only traveled to Osier and back.^[11] After undergoing extensive refurbishment, the bridge was reopened on June 20, 2011.^[12]

National Historic Landmark

In 1973, the Cumbres & Toltec was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the boundaries were increased in 2007.^[1] In 2012, the railroad was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Rolling stock

Locomotives

All of the steam locomotives currently operating on the C&TS are former Denver and Rio Grande Western 2-8-2 outside frame engines built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in the early 1900s. Among these are K-27 #463, the K-36 class, and the slightly larger K-37 class engines. In addition to the steam locomotives, the C&TS also operates two GE 47-ton switchers for light duties.^[13]

D&RGW #168

In 2015, D&RGW #168, a 4-6-0 steam locomotive, was transported from Colorado Springs to the C&TS shops in Antonito to be restored to operating condition. The 168 is one of two surviving class T-12 locomotives built for the D&RGW between 1883 and 1885. The other T-12, D&RGW #169, is on static display in Alamosa, Colorado, and is not operational.^[14]

Passenger Cars

For passenger services, the Cumbres & Toltec operates a mixture of flat roofed and clerestory cars with interiors corresponding with the railroad's three classes of service: Coach, Tourist, and Parlor. The C&TS also operates special coaches configured to accommodate wheelchairs and house concession areas.^[15]

In popular culture

Over the years, the railroad was featured in several documentaries and films.^[16] Among these are:

• Bite the Bullet, 1975
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, 1989
• Ghost Trains of the Old West, 1990^[17]
• America's Historic Steam Railroads: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, 1999^[18]
• A Million Ways to Die in the West, 2014
• Hostiles, 2017^[5]

Route description

Locations along the line

• Chama, New Mexico {{coord|36|54|N|106|35|W|region:US:NM_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Chama}}
• Cumbres Pass {{coord|37|1|N|106|27|W|region:US:CO_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Cumbres Pass}}
• Osier, Colorado {{coord|37|1|N|106|20|W|region:US:CO_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Osier}}
• Toltec Gorge, New Mexico {{coord|36|59|N|106|18|W|region:US:NM_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Toltec Gorge}}
• Sublette Station {{coord|36|59|N|106|14|W|region:US:NM_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Sublette}}
• Antonito, Colorado {{coord|37|4|N|106|1|W|region:US:CO_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Antonito}}

Chama to Osier

Beginning in Chama (Milepost 344.12), the railroad proceeds northeast after leaving the yard and crossing the Rio Chama. About a mile later begins a 4% grade which is nearly constant from there to Cumbres. The first siding on the line is located at Lobato (MP: 339.99), located here are the remnants of a stock pen, and a water tank made for a movie in the 1970s. The tank was used later in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The water tank was knocked over in 2006, due to age and high winds. Just under a quarter of a mile away, is Lobato Trestle, the second-highest trestle on the line, built in 1883. Due to weight restrictions, only one locomotive at a time is allowed to cross; therefore, all double-headers must separate, and rejoin on the other side.

From here to Cumbres, the railroad operates on the north side of Wolf Creek. On the journey to the top at Cumbres, the train passes Cresco Siding and water tank (MP 335.10) and navigates a small canyon past Hamilton's Point. Exiting the canyon, the track makes a turn to the northwest and up the Wolf Creek drainage through Coxo. At a narrow point of the valley, the track makes a horseshoe turn up to Windy Point, which the train rounds to enter Cumbres Pass.

At Cumbres (MP 330.48), elevation {{convert|10015|ft|m|abbr=on}}, is the Car Inspector's House, Water Standpipe, remnants of the extensive snow shed, and the Section House, which replaced the original depot after it was demolished in the 1950s. Cumbres is the highest point on the railroad. From here east, the track heads down at 2.5%, and descends the Cumbres Loop, more commonly refer to as "Tanglefoot Curve". After exiting the loop, the track follows a general easterly direction until Milepost 327.6, where they turn north up the Los Piños Valley.

Heading north, the track loses elevation, while the valley slopes up, with the track and valley floor finally meeting at Mile 325, where the track once again changes direction, heading south on the other side of the valley, following the Rio de Los Piños toward Osier. After Mile 323, the track again leaves the valley, on a much steeper grade, while the track clings to the valley created by the river. Along the way, the track crosses Cascade Trestle (MP 319.95), taller than the Lobato Trestle, at {{convert|137|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Approximately a mile and a half later, the track enters Osier, Colorado, the midpoint of the railroad where the two trains meet for lunch. Here, riders may switch trains and return to their point of origin, or ride to the opposing terminus.

Antonito to Osier

This section covers the eastern portion of the line from the small cattle and junction town of Antonito to Osier, the midpoint of the line.

Antonito (MP 280.70) is a small company town of the former railroad main line. It is home to the C&TS car shop, a water tank, and other relics. Most of the facilities were built by the Cumbres & Toltec, as the original rail yard, wye, and station were not sold to the states of Colorado and New Mexico.

Shortly after leaving the station, the train heads straight for {{convert|3|mi|km}}, until coming into some hills. Shortly thereafter, the train crosses Ferguson's Trestle (MP 285.87), named for a man who was hung from a locomotive there. The original trestle was featured in the 1988 television movie Where the Hell's That Gold?, starring Willie Nelson and Delta Burke. In filming, a planned explosion ended up getting out of hand and the bridge was burned down. Traffic was halted for a week while the C&TS built a temporary bridge; the following winter it rebuilt the trestle to match the original. About three miles (5 km) later, the train makes the first of 11 crossings into New Mexico, and climbs a ledge up to a lava mesa. Lava (291.55) has the old water tank from Antonito, which was moved here in 1971. The track goes around a horseshoe curve that is also used as a reversing loop to turn the rotary snow plow trains from Chama. The Cumbres & Toltec has two rotary snowplows — Rotary OM and Rotary OY.

Heading west, the track rounds Whiplash Curve, a double horseshoe curve. About a mile from Whiplash Curve lie the sidings and wye at Big Horn. Past Big Horn the train loops around the sides of mountains going through horseshoe curves before reaching the first water stop at Sublette.

Sublette is an abandoned railroad section camp, consisting of a log bunk house, a section house, a siding, and other buildings. There used to be a water tank at the western end of the siding, but today, in its place, is a standpipe. After filling the tender with water, the engine and the train slowly creep into lush aspen groves.

After departing Sublette comes Toltec Siding, which in the 1950s was the meeting place of long oil well pipe trains moving between Chama and Farmington to Alamosa. Shortly afterwords, trains pass through Mud Tunnel, which is unique, because it is lined with wooden pillars, since it is bored through soft volcanic ash. When the beams in the tunnel collapsed, the D&RGW made a "shoo fly"{{clarify|date=October 2013}} around the tunnel to allow passengers and small cars to be moved around the tunnel to an awaiting train. After passing through this, trains pass around Phantom Curve and through Calico Cut, and then the trains slow down as they enter the longer Rock Tunnel. Trains exit the tunnel, entering the Toltec Gorge, where the track is {{convert|600|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the river. The line follows the river the remainder of the distance to Osier.

See also

• D & RG Narrow Gauge Trestle
• Heber Valley Railroad
• 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

References

External links

• {{official website|http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/}}
• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Photos
• D&RGW-related Steam Locomotive Rosters
• Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

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