RAILFANNING!
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad 2007
In September, 2007, while on a rail odyssey out west visiting family and friends, my wife and I spent two days riding the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Here are some of the better shots from that trip:
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 This
is our train. |
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 And
we're off! |
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 Welcome
to New Mexico! We crossed the state line back and forth about eleven
times on our way to Chama. |
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 Trailing
along behind us was this speeder, towing a small water car. His job
was to put out any hot spots our loco's cinders might cause, before
it can become a full-fledged forest fire! |
 An
absolutely gorgeous day! This is what heaven must be like. |
 The
re-created little hamlet of Sublette. |
 Get
those heads inside! Tunnel! |
 We're
now approaching Osier, where the train coming from Chama meets ours.
The Chama train is already here waiting. |
 Everyone
is treated to lunch at Osier - it's part of the ticket price. The
food was amazingly good. |
 After
lunch, as our train begins to move, we pass by Osier station. |
 A
bit further on down the track and we come to Cumbres Pass, the
highest point on the rail line - over 10,000 feet in elevation! |
 The
scenery was pretty spectacular from up here! |
 Just
in case ya thought the last shot was a fluke. |
 Blowdown! |
 The
big white puff of steam over the car is a toot on the whistle in
progress. |
 A
look at the right side running gear. |
 Blowing
down again, and leaving a rainbow in its wake. Something poetic
about that, isn't there? |
 Dropping
out of the mountain now. Chama is getting closer. |
 Look
familiar? You Indiana Jones swung from the horizontal pipe in the
movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." The structure was built
just for the movie - it isn't historic (at least, not to the
railroad). |
 We've
arrived in Chama, and the soon-to-be-setting sun casts slanted rays
on the Chama yard. |
 The
next morning we're getting ready to leave Chama for the return to
Antonito. This loco wasn't our motive power - it was just sitting
there making us think it would be. We'd have good ol' 487 on the
head end again. |
 Our
ride for the day - the Parlour Car! Tickets are more expensive for
this little extra, but it sure added a touch of class to the trip
back. |
 Hangin'
out at Chama station, waiting for the call to board. How many times
was this repeated in the past? |
 We're
on our way, and sure enough there's our friendly little water
speeder, trundling along behind. |
 From
the back of the Parlour Car I got gret views of where we had just
been. |
 This
was a really comfortable way to ride! |
 We
just passed this water tower. Apparently the loco wasn't thirsty
yet. |
 The
Colorado rockies are sure pretty! |
 The
lower line outside the window is a highway. The upper one is where
we'll be going. |
 We're
back at Cumbres Pass again. |
 As
we take on water, our speeder pulls up close behind. |
 Another
blowdown! The crew does this when the loco needs it, but I think
they also try to do it where they'll put on the best show for all us
tourists. |
 Maintenance
goes on constantly in the summer. Here's some new ballast. |
 A
great view of the right side of the train. |
 We're
passing over the tallest trestle on the line. |
 Approaching
Osier from the other side. Time for another great meal! |
 Hmpf!
Didn't anyone check the coupler heights?! |
 WOW!
Talk about different eras! As we waited at the train after lunch,
suddenly this high-tech C-130 passes a few hundred feet over our
1930s train! |
 The
train leaving Osier in the other direction. |
 Almost
close enough to scrape the paint off! |
 We'll
be popping out of this tunnel in just a few seconds. |
 Oooo!
Scenery! |
 Ooooo!
More scenery! |
 We'll
be on the track down there in about 15 minutes. |
 We're
back in Antonito, and I got a chance to wave goodbye from the cab!
What a fun trip that was! |
