Story:
Time to kick back, and leave the driving to someone else....diesel bus and coal-fired, narrow-gauge, steam train. The Cumbres & Toltec is America's highest narrow-gauge steam train.
We boarded the bus at Antonito, CO (7,888') and traveled 36 miles to Cumbres Pass (10,015'), the highest point on the rail route between Antonito and Chama. At Cumbres Pass we boarded locomotive #484, beginning our downhill (1.4% grade) journey to Antonito.
The Lobato Trestle 5 miles north of Chama, was structurally damaged by a fire of unknown origin on June 25th, 2010. To keep the C&TSRR in operation, passengers are shuttled to Cumbres Pass, shortening the trip from 64 to 50 mi.s. If you want to see an Everytrail.com trip report of the full 64 mile route, in Sept 2009,....and with the sun shining, click on DUL's trip.
The weather was unusual for the high desert San Luis region...an all-day soaker! The weather muted the bright gold of the aspens, but the clouds added a dynamic to the photos. We'll be back again, to see the Rio de Los Pinos valley in the bright sun.
In 1870, the D&RG (Denver & Rio Grande) was incorporated and decided to build a rail route from Denver CO, to El Paso TX. The D&RG chose the narrow-gauge (3ft rail separation), in stead of the standard-gauge (4'-8") to cut costs, and enable sharper curves through the mountainous terrain. You'll experience many of the 20° sharp curves east of Sublette, such as "Whiplash Curve".
You'll also experience the power of the 2-8-2 steam locomotive, such as our circa 1925, #484. The 2-8-2 (Whyte notation) refers to drive wheel arrangement...8 drive wheels on 4 axels, with 2 wheels on one axel, leading and trailing. The 2-8-2 arrangement allows the firebox to be placed behind, instead of above the drive wheels. This enables a very large firebox, deep and wide. The larger fire box in turn enables greater combustion, with more power at higher speeds.
The parlor car is a nice touch...comfort similar to the old days of air travel. An attendant is assigned to the parlor car, and offers drinks, fruit plate, and other refreshments throughout the journey. As well as pointing out various features along the way. The parlor car is the last car on the train, so you'll be able to snap unobstructed pictures from the rear platform. And you can go to the open car...weather permitting :-)
The cafeteria-style lunch provided by C&TSRR at Osier is worth waiting for. The soup & salad bar had many offerings, and for the meat-and-potatoe folks, turkey and meatloaf were offered on our trip. Reportedly the turkey was the real stuff, not compressed pieces.
Check out the C&TSRR website, if you're in the area, and want to spend an enjoyable day traveling like our ancestors did.
Finally, if you're in the upper Arkansas River valley, be sure to check out the The Leadville High Line Railroad, LC&S RR. It's a different kind of trip, maybe more for the "little ones"...much shorter in time, but very much fun.
Time to kick back, and leave the driving to someone else....diesel bus and coal-fired, narrow-gauge, steam train. The Cumbres & Toltec is America's highest narrow-gauge steam train.
We boarded the bus at Antonito, CO (7,888') and traveled 36 miles to Cumbres Pass (10,015'), the highest point on the rail route between Antonito and Chama. At Cumbres Pass we boarded locomotive #484, beginning our downhill (1.4% grade) journey to Antonito.
The Lobato Trestle 5 miles north of Chama, was structurally damaged by a fire of unknown origin on June 25th, 2010. To keep the C&TSRR in operation, passengers are shuttled to Cumbres Pass, shortening the trip from 64 to 50 mi.s. If you want to see an Everytrail.com trip report of the full 64 mile route, in Sept 2009,....and with the sun shining, click on DUL's trip.
The weather was unusual for the high desert San Luis region...an all-day soaker! The weather muted the bright gold of the aspens, but the clouds added a dynamic to the photos. We'll be back again, to see the Rio de Los Pinos valley in the bright sun.
In 1870, the D&RG (Denver & Rio Grande) was incorporated and decided to build a rail route from Denver CO, to El Paso TX. The D&RG chose the narrow-gauge (3ft rail separation), in stead of the standard-gauge (4'-8") to cut costs, and enable sharper curves through the mountainous terrain. You'll experience many of the 20° sharp curves east of Sublette, such as "Whiplash Curve".
You'll also experience the power of the 2-8-2 steam locomotive, such as our circa 1925, #484. The 2-8-2 (Whyte notation) refers to drive wheel arrangement...8 drive wheels on 4 axels, with 2 wheels on one axel, leading and trailing. The 2-8-2 arrangement allows the firebox to be placed behind, instead of above the drive wheels. This enables a very large firebox, deep and wide. The larger fire box in turn enables greater combustion, with more power at higher speeds.
The parlor car is a nice touch...comfort similar to the old days of air travel. An attendant is assigned to the parlor car, and offers drinks, fruit plate, and other refreshments throughout the journey. As well as pointing out various features along the way. The parlor car is the last car on the train, so you'll be able to snap unobstructed pictures from the rear platform. And you can go to the open car...weather permitting :-)
The cafeteria-style lunch provided by C&TSRR at Osier is worth waiting for. The soup & salad bar had many offerings, and for the meat-and-potatoe folks, turkey and meatloaf were offered on our trip. Reportedly the turkey was the real stuff, not compressed pieces.
Check out the C&TSRR website, if you're in the area, and want to spend an enjoyable day traveling like our ancestors did.
Finally, if you're in the upper Arkansas River valley, be sure to check out the The Leadville High Line Railroad, LC&S RR. It's a different kind of trip, maybe more for the "little ones"...much shorter in time, but very much fun.
Tips:
A must...reserve a gorge-side (southerly -side) seat for the best views, particularily if weather forces you inside the car.
Choose Parlor-Class.
Buy the DBOsterwald book "Ticket to Toltec"......it's well worth it....lot's of old photos and history.
GLASSES....HOT CINDERS!
A must...reserve a gorge-side (southerly -side) seat for the best views, particularily if weather forces you inside the car.
Choose Parlor-Class.
Buy the DBOsterwald book "Ticket to Toltec"......it's well worth it....lot's of old photos and history.
GLASSES....HOT CINDERS!
Tags:
cumbres, Toltec, Railroad, train, antonito, Chama
cumbres, Toltec, Railroad, train, antonito, Chama
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