Colorado Vacation - 2004

 

Day 7 -  Steamin' Down The Line

Wednesday, September 1st

Antonito, Colorado, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, New Mexico 

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One of the things that the wife and I share, besides an obsession with Colorado, is an interest in trains and railroading; especially steam locomotives. Any time we plan a vacation, there will be a train involved somehow. This trip was to be no exception. There are currently seven tourist trains operating in Colorado, and the Cumbres & Toltec makes number five on our completed list.

Of all of the routes we have ridden, this one would rank number two, right after the Durango & Silverton line. The next few pages will try and illustrate why we feel that way. 

Completed in 1880, this line is now operated jointly by both Colorado and New Mexico as a living history exhibit. 

 (click thumbnails for full size picture)

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This is the main depot on the Antonito, Colorado end of the line. Very nice facility, but not much rolling stock stored here. Found out later that nearly all of the rolling stock is kept in Chama, New Mexico.  Picture of me strolling in front of the depot.
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Another shot of the depot. You can see the passenger cars in the background.  This is the locomotive that will take us to our destination, all fired up and ready to go. Steam locomotives are truly an amazing piece of 19th century technology.

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Another shot of the entire train Train approaches Hangman's Trestle, where a posse hung a man named Ferguson for an unknown crime. No relation to me, as far as I know.

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Train arrives at water tower at Lava Loop  Small marker sign letting you know where you are
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Some of the trees along the route really surprised me, because of their size. Historically, the railroads used all available timber within a mile of the rail line, cutting all the trees they could find for railroad ties and heat. These larger trees appeared to have been left alone, and there were many of them remaining along the route.  This is the town of Sublette, which once housed the section gangs. These were the people responsible for maintaining the railroad right of way.