140 minutes
I fell in love with the Cumbres
& Toltec when I visited the first time in 2001. Arriving at Chama
that day was like stepping into a time warp. I was captivated by the old
buildings and storefronts in the town. Down by the depot, the smell of
coal smoke and the hiss of steam was in the air. The train yard was
crowded with ancient wooden railroad cars. The water tank, coal tipple,
roundhouse, and accessory structures added detail and texture.
Experiencing the train ride and watching the action over the next few
days got me hooked.
Back at home I sent a check
for membership in the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec. Through this I
learned more about the rise and fall of this particular 64 miles of
narrow gauge railroad, and the unlikely and remarkable story about how
it was saved by a coalition of rail fans, historians and local folks who
convinced the states of Colorado and New Mexico to purchase the line in
1970. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec support the railroad and
its historic elements by contributing funds, and more importantly,
volunteer labor to restore and maintain rolling stock, trackside signs
and structures, and interpret its history with its docent program.
This colorful 140-minute
program shows the beauty of the narrow-gauge railroad in operation and
what it takes to keep the locomotives, cars, and structures appearing
just as they have in the past.
