Photo by Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
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About Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs a 64‑mile, 3‑ft narrow‑gauge journey between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, climbing to the 10,015‑foot Cumbres Pass. Each morning, a westbound and an eastbound train depart, meeting at Osier, Colorado, where passengers enjoy lunch in a modern dining hall before continuing toward the opposite terminus. Operating from late May through late October, the line traverses tunnels, bridges and the dramatic Toltec Gorge, offering continuous steam‑powered scenery.
History
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad traces its origins to February 1880, when Denver and Rio Grande crews began laying the San Juan Extension from Alamosa and reached Anton (1880) and then Chama on December 31, 1880. After the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad filed for abandonment in September 1968, New Mexico authorized purchase of the Chama‑Antonito segment in April 1969, Colorado followed with legislation in 1970, and the bi‑state ownership led to the railroad’s formation in 1971. The line earned historic recognitions as a National Register property in 1973, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1976, and a National Historic Landmark in 2012. Operational disruptions include track‑bed shutdowns in 2002, a fire that damaged Lobato Trestle on June 23, 2010 with reopening on June 20, 2011, and a 2023 lawsuit filed by former employees. Management shifted in 2012 when the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission created Cumbres and Toltec Operating LLC, appointed John Bush as president on December 13, 2012, and saw his retirement on November 14, 2020, while the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad nonprofit was established in 1988 to support preservation.
The Trains
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad runs 64 miles (103 km) of 3 ft (914 mm) narrow‑gauge track between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico. Its roster includes ten narrow‑gauge steam locomotives—five currently operational—two narrow‑gauge diesel locomotives, and the former D&RGW steam engines No. 315 (Durango Railroad Historical Society) and No. 168 (City of Colorado Springs) used for special events, while the Chama yard stores the rotary snowplows OM and OY.
Nearby
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a full-day Colorado ride; build your itinerary around it rather than rushing.
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