Took the ride today, but left the camera in the car so I could just enjoy looking, smelling, listening, and feeling the day. It goes from Antonito, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico. 64 miles, leaves at 10 a.m., arrives about 5:00 p.m., with a delicious hot dinner about 1:00 p.m. at a dining hall type of facility in the mountains. It was a beautiful day, sunny, warm (around 90 later in the day), but at 10,000 feet it was cool with some rain. Just an absolutely beautiful way to spend a day. We had a knowledgeable docent with microphone system that explained the geology, ecology, etc. of the area and what we were seeing, and he answered questions about the road, the rolling stock, the locomotives, the history of the line, etc. The coal-fired steam locomotive smelled and sounded wonderful, especially on the climb up. I recommend the ride to anyone going to Colorado/New Mexico on vacation. GWH

Bueatiful country. I haven't been on much of that railroad bed but enjoyed driving most of the Chama to Durango railroad bed. That mountain food will taste good even if it was bad.
Have you seem the railroad video on the RFD channel of the Steam engines plowing snow on the Chama pass. Lots of steam whistle signals for forward, reserve, stop & etc.
Then imagine the machines that built railroad bed over 100 years ago. They sure created the need for machines that we play with today. Clay

One great thing about the C&TS Railroad is being able to hang out in the Chama yards and watch them service the locomotives. And all of the antique maintenance equipment in the yards-Jordan spreaders, flangers, and the two old steam rotary snowplows. I'd love to see one of the rotaries in action.

I haven't been there in several years; I need to go back. Cumbres & Toltec is one of those places that EVERYONE needs to see at least once.

The day after my train ride, I drove to Antonito and photographed the train, then drove to Cumbres Pass and caught the double-header climbing up from the Chama end of the line, then drove to Chama and caught the helper locomotive returning to the yard. Hope you enjoy these photos as much as I did taking them. GWH

Photo 99: Engine No. 484 waiting to haul an excursion train from Antonito, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico
Photo 100: ditto
Photo 101: ditto
Photo 102: ditto
Photo 103: ditto
Photo 104: Looking south past the water tower

Photo 105: Patiently waiting
Photo 106: ditto
Photo 107: Under steam
Photo 108: The speeder is performing fire suppression service, following the train by about ¼ mile to put out any fires started by the coal-fired steam locomotive
Photo 109: Looking south
Photo 110: We begin to lose sight of the train in the distance

Photo 111: Maintenace-of-way workers at Cumbres Pass
Photo 112: ditto
Photo 113: Cumbres Pass
Photo 114: Speeders at Cumbres Pass
Photo 115: The station at Cumbres Pass
Photo 116: Water spout, for filling the tenders with water

Photo 117: Schedule posted at Cumbres Pass Station
Photo 118: Sign on the Cumbres Pass Station
Photo 119: Swallows’ nests made from mud
Photo 120: A train is approaching from the south. It started at Chama, New Mexico, and is going to Antonito, Colorado. See the smoke in the distance.
Photo 121: The cut in the mid-right is where the train will come from
Photo 122: out of focus and not used (I got too excited!)
Photo 123: A double-header necessary to climb the 4% grade up Cumbres Pass

Photo 124: Ditto
Photo 125: Ditto
Photo 126: Ditto
Photo 127: The helper engine, No. 488, is pulling engine No. 487
Photo 128: Ditto
Photo 129: Engine No. 488 waiting to be uncoupled from No. 487

Photo 130: The coupling
Photo 131: Filling the tender of No. 487
Photo 132: No. 488 has been uncoupled, and is traveling down the track to a wye, where it will back into and turn around
Photo 133: No. 487 waits for No. 488 to enter the wye before proceeding
Photo 134: Ditto
Photo 135: No. 488 backing into the wye

Photo 136: Ditto, note the coal smoke through which we look
Photo 137: Ditto
Photo 138: No. 488 turned on the wye and is now headed for the mainline and south
Photo 139: Ditto
Photo 140: Ditto
Photo 141: A man turns the switch