From: stover@aslws01.asl.dl.nec.com (Jim Stover)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Trip report on the C&TS
Summary: Great fun on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Keywords: Scenic RR, Cumbre, Toltec
Date: 21 Jul 92 17:30:20 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: NEC America, Inc. Irving, Texas

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is the longest and highest scenic
narrow gauge railroad. It runs between Chama NM and Antonito CO. There are 
trips from either end for the full distance or to the middle and back. We rode
from Chama to the mid-point and back.

The rail yard at Chama contains the remains of the Rio Grande railroad and has
a large amount of equipment you can explore, including 2 snow plows, 2 crane cars,
lots of rolling stock, box cars, tank cars, etc. All is readily accessable. The 
actual train consists of two steam engines, 6 passager cars, snack car, 4 box 
cars with windows and plastic seats and one open car. The station has no water, 
so bring your own! We boarded the train and pulled out at 10:30. 

Just outside of the station, the front engine went ahead over a trestle that
is too weak for two engines. We rejoined on the other side and started up a 
4% grade. The view is beautiful as we climbed through aspens. The best view is from
between cars or the open car. There are a number of switch backs where you can
see the whole train. 

Along the way we saw another engine, a few cars, a flat car with a polished
and painted Gatling gun and a caboose on the siding. There was also a "movie
set" station, "settlers", cowboys and a film crew making a video or commercial.
This is also the section where "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was filmed.

At the highest point (10,016 feet) at Cumbres, we took on 3,500 gallons of water.
The coal car holds 5,000. We dropped the front engine off at a siding and were
on our own. There is a turn-around for the engine and the remains of a snow
cover over the track. At one time the whole area was covered, but the track is
all exposed now. 

There is one more trestle before the mid-point. At Osier we met the other
train and exchanged engines. No turn around here! You can bring your lunch or
eat lunch in a large hall. After an hour we reboarded and were on our way
home. The movie crew was still there going strong. 

There are lots of beautiful views and a number of interesting sights along the
way. Four cows ran across the track and we almost had steak for lunch. Another
group of cows ran along side the train for a while. We also saw one deer.
On the half of the trip that we did not take there is a tunnel and 
another trestle to cross. All along the way were people taking pictures of us.

The steam engines were unusual in that there were counter weights on the wheels
where the connecting rods attach. Is this normal? We also saw several water tanks
that were filled from mountain streams. On a later part of our vacation we went to
a museum that has a collect of wind mills, including a 22 1/2 foot "railroad"
wind mill. The largest "railroad" wind mills were 30 foot across. Are there
any "railroad" wind mills still running? Any remains? Where were they used and
how much could they pump? Does anybody model them? What's the net wisdom on them?

The trip is great and the C&TS is expecting 60,00 passengers this year. Make your
reservations early and bring jacket, water and lunch. I would suggest that C&TS move 
some of the equipment out where people can see it better. As it was there were only
4 or 5 of us who ventured back to see the old equipment. Also it would be nice if
there were a good railroad museum with memorabilia. That might take some big bucks.
All in all a **** experience! (:-).

James T. Stover
stover@asl.dl.nec.com
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