The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, often abbreviated as the C&TSRR, is a narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on of track between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, in the United States. The railroad is named for two geographical features along the route: the -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.
The C&TSRR is one of only two remaining parts of the former D&RGW narrow-gauge network, the other being the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG), which runs between Durango and Silverton, Colorado. The railroad has a total of 10 narrow-gauge steam locomotives (5 operational) and 2 narrow-gauge diesel locomotives on its current roster. The railroad also operates two smaller former D&RGW steam locomotives, Nos. 315 (owned by the Durango Railroad Historical Society) and 168 (owned by the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado), for special events and excursions.
History
On February 20, 1880, track crews of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway (D&RG) began to lay the first rails of the San Juan Extension going south from Alamosa, Colorado, toward Antonito, Colorado, arriving in March of that year. The company chose the narrow gauge of three feet instead of the standard gauge of four feet eight and a half inches. This was because narrow gauge was cheaper to build, and narrow gauge railways can accommodate tighter-radius curves. This allowed laying track where standard gauge would not fit. From Antonito, the line continued west to Chama, New Mexico, arriving there on December 31, 1880. The track had come through two tunnels, over a mountain pass, and skirted a 600-foot gorge. The line then went on towards Durango, Colorado. The purpose of this extension was to tap into the mineral resources around the Silverton, Colorado area.
When the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad arrived in Chama, other railroad companies were formed to take advantage of the local forests. This created a flourishing logging economy for the town. There were lumber mills located to the west and south of Chama. These mills provided a steady stream of revenue for the railroad, lasting until abandonment in the late 1960s.
After World War II, there was an oil boom in Farmington, New Mexico. This boom provided a surge of revenue for the railroad. This revenue came from 60-car pipe trains heading west from Antonito. The Gramps Oil Fields in southern Colorado supplied oil for trains running from Chama to Antonito. The lumber mills also provided a steady stream of revenue, although this was less important than oil. This increase in revenue saved the line from abandonment.
All of these successes had drawbacks. The major issue with the line was Cumbres Pass itself. Cumbres Pass is above sea level. The high elevation and various other factors led to many terrible snowstorms. This prompted the railroad to purchase "rotary snowplows". The two that were used on the Cumbres Pass line were Rotary OM and Rotary OY. Both rotaries still exist in Chama, New Mexico, but historically they were dispatched from Alamosa. Every five or six years, the winter season can bring as much as 500 inches of snow to Cumbres. These snowstorms were a huge financial burden for the railroad. The "Granddaddy of All Snowstorms" hit in the winter of 1951–1952. This was the worst recorded winter on the line and one of the deciding factors when abandonment was considered in the 1960s.
In September 1968, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad filed for abandonment of its narrow-gauge lines. In April 1969, legislation was signed in New Mexico that authorized the state to purchase the track between Chama and Antonito. In 1970, Colorado passed similar legislation. The two states jointly owned the line and, by 1971, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was formed.
Notable incidents 2002 shutdowns In 2002, the C&TSRR was shut down twice, first in the spring to resolve track bed issues. In the summer, operations were suspended again due to wildfire risks.
Lobato trestle fire On June 23, 2010, an unknown fire severely damaged Lobato Trestle, a deck girder bridge located approximately east of Chama. While the bridge was out of service, the C&TSRR operated limited services from the Chama end while trains from Antonito only traveled to Osier and back. After undergoing extensive refurbishment, the bridge was reopened on June 20, 2011.
2023 lawsuits In December 2023, some former Cumbres & Toltec employees filed a lawsuit against the railroad alleging discrimination.
National Historic Landmark In 1973, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its boundaries were increased in 2007. The railroad was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1976. In 2012, the railroad was designated a National Historic Landmark, for its engineering, well-preserved infrastructure and equipment and the role of the railroad in the development of the region it served.
Current operations The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad operates between late May and late October, with two trains (one in each direction) departing each morning from Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico. Both trains meet at Osier, Colorado, for lunch. At Osier, lunch is served in a modern dining hall to passengers. From there, passengers can either continue to the other side of the railroad or switch trains and return to their point of origin. Once the westbound train arrives at Cumbres Pass, passengers can board motorcoaches to return to Antonito, or they can save an hour and continue to Chama. The Continental Divide Trail also passes through Cumbres Pass. The railroad offers these hikers a ride down the mountain from the pass if desired. At the end of the day, motorcoaches are again provided for passengers who arrived from the opposite end. The motorcoach ride is about one hour long.
In addition to the through service, the C&TSRR operates various special excursions during the season, such as dinner trains. On certain days during the holiday season, the railroad offers special "Santa Trains" from both Chama and Antonito, and guests are encouraged to bring gifts and/or food for the less fortunate.
Operator changes After the C&TSRR was formed in 1971, a bi-state agency, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission, was created. Railroad operations were then contracted to third-party rail operators. In 2012, after long discussions with other third parties bidding to take over, the Commission formed its own operating company, Cumbres and Toltec Operating LLC They hired John Bush, a veteran of the railroad, to become president on December 13, 2012. Bush retired on November 14, 2020.
Friends of the C&TSRR In 1988, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the railroad's history and help maintain its infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TSRR also participates in various education programs and provides the railroad guides, known as docents, who inform passengers about the railroad's historical aspects and locations of interest.
Route description
Locations along the line Chama, New Mexico Cumbres Pass Osier, Colorado Toltec Gorge, New Mexico Sublette Station Antonito, Colorado
Chama to Osier Chama Yard The Chama yard is located at milepost 344.12. Here, the railroad stores most of its freight cars and both rotary snowplows, Rotary OY and Rotary OM. On the east side is part of the original D&RGW roundhouse. A fire destroyed most of the roundhouse years ago; what remains is used to store parts. K-37 locomotive No. 497 is currently stored here. On the far side of the old roundhouse section are the shops where the engines are serviced and prepared for the next day. The shops have two stalls and can hold two engines inside simultaneously. On the west side of the yard is the original depot from the late 1800s, where train tickets can be purchased. There is a gift shop with a variety of items for sale. On the south end of the yard, over 100 freight cars are visible. The yard is open to the public and can be toured. About 40 of the cars in the yard are operational.Bush, John. Personal Interview. March 15, 2020. From Chama, the railroad proceeds northeast after crossing the Rio Chama. About later, the railroad begins up the mountain on a grade averaging 4%. The first siding on the line is at Lobato (MP: 339.99). Here are remnants of a stock pen and a water tank made for a movie in the 1980s. The tank was used later in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The water tank was knocked over in 2006, succumbing to age and high winds. Lobato Trestle, located at Lobato, is the second-highest trestle on the line and was built in 1883. Due to weight restrictions, only one locomotive at a time is allowed to cross. Hence, all double-headers must separate and rejoin on the other side. The bridge was rebuilt in 2011 after a fire nearly destroyed it.
From here to Cumbres, the railroad operates on the north side of Wolf Creek. There are several old stations along the line. The first is Dalton (MP: 335.5). There is nothing at Dalton besides the station sign. Next on the journey to the top at Cumbres, the train passes Cresco Siding and water tank (MP 335.5). Just before this, the track crosses the state line for the first time. This water tank is used when operating smaller engines, such as No. 315 and No. 168, and for rotary trains. The route then enters a small canyon past Hamilton's Point. Exiting the canyon, the track turns northwest and climbs Wolf Creek through Coxo. At Coxo, there is a short siding for maintenance equipment and a station sign. At a narrow point of the valley, the track makes a horseshoe turn up to Windy Point. Windy Point is an outcrop of volcanic rock where the wind blows so hard that the smoke from the trains often blows towards the front of the train instead of the rear. This is less than a quarter of a mile from Cumbres Pass, the highest point on the line.
At Cumbres (MP 330.60), elevation , 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 and the highest elevation of any narrow-gauge railroad in North America. Upon reaching the pass, the engine must take on water, as it has used about of its supply. After taking on water and a short brake test, the train departs to the east and begins the downhill section. At "Tanglefoot Curve", the track doubles back on itself to lose elevation gradually. Here, trains descending will perform a boiler blowdown. This is where the engine releases steam from the boiler to clear sediments at the bottom of the boiler. From there, the track turns north up the Los Piños Valley.
The track continues a gentle descent on the average 1.45% grade to the north until it reaches the Los Piños tank. This tank is always full and is used for small engines and rotary trains. The track takes a gentle loop off to the west and comes back to the east at the station of Los Piños (MP: 324.8). There is nothing here except a siding and the station sign. The track then turns back north towards Osier, Colorado. Just before Osier, at Milepost 320, the track crosses Cascade Trestle. This is the highest trestle on the entire line, sitting at above the river below. The train then stops at Osier, Colorado (MP: 318.40), where passengers are served lunch in a modern, wooden indoor facility.
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.