Wow what a cool place this is. Located in a small town in New Mexico there is a amazing railroad, and yard. I didn't plan ahead enough to ride it, but I did walk the complete yard. Me and my dad... Woody met a very friendly man by the name of Bob. He took time to tell us some great stories about this railroad. Come along and enjoy this special walk.
HISTORY:
An Extension of the Rio Grande

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s narrow gauge San Juan Extension, which served the silver mining district of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado. The inability to interchange cars with other railroads led the Rio Grande to begin converting its tracks to standard gauge in 1890.

Like all of the Rio Grande at the time, it was built to a gauge of 3 feet between the rails, instead of the more common 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches that became standard in the United States.

Stalled by the Silver Mining Bust

However, with the repeal of the Sherman Act in 1893 and its devastating effect on the silver mining industry, traffic over the San Juan Extension failed to warrant conversion to standard gauge. In the decades that followed, the railroad was mostly stagnant, although its last major upgrades in equipment and infrastructure happened in the 1920s.

A post-World War II natural gas boom brought a brief period of prosperity to the line, but operations dwindled to a trickle in the 1960s. Finally, in 1969 the Interstate Commerce Commission granted the Rio Grande’s request to abandon its remaining narrow gauge main line trackage, thereby ending the last use of steam locomotives in general freight service in the United States.

Saved by the Preservationists

Most of the abandoned track was dismantled soon after the ICC’s decision, but through the combined efforts of an energetic and resourceful group of railway preservationists and local civic interests, the most scenic portion of the line was saved. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama.

The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

Nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility was purchased for $547,120 in 1970. The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

MOVIES:
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a modern 19th century movie star. The unspoiled Western scenery along our route and our distinct narrow gauge steam engines bring interest and authenticity to the screen. You can see our railroad featured in more than 20 documentaries, mini-series, and films over the past five decades.
From classics such as the 1975 Bite the Bullet and Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade in 1989, to the Oscar-nominated Wyatt Earp in the mid 1990’s and the recent PBS American Experience: Billy the Kid, the C&TSRR has shared the screen with many great actors. One of the recent projects that utilized our railroad was the 2014 film A Million Ways to Die in the West, starring Seth McFarland, Liam Neeson, and Charlize Theron. And in 2018, Hostiles, starring Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike, features the C&TSRR trains and our Chama Depot in the last four minutes of the acclaimed film.
Locomotives and Equipment
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is known for its extensive collection of rolling stock which can be viewed at both our Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado rail yards. Check out our five operating coal fired, steam operated, narrow gauge locomotives – #484, 487, 488, 489, and 463. Locomotive #489 joined the line in 2008 after an extensive recondition. Locomotive #483 is on display at the Chama station but is not in operation. Locomotive #463 returned to operation in 2013. Walking tour brochures are available at our depots.

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