Baldwin K-36 with the train from Antonito Co.to Chama NM. drifts down the 2% grade from Cumbres Pass to Chama.
Opening Cumbres Pass after a brutal winter in 1997.... The Rotary Snow Plow is cutting into a deep drift as it approaches Windy Point....
Would you believe it is May 4. After a heavy winter the Cumbres in Toltec had to bring out Rotary OY to get the line cleared for the summer season. What an incredible site to see a steam powered R... (more)
Now traveling almost compass south, the Train 216 is nearing MP 324 and crosses the Rio de los Pinos River in front of Pinorealosa Mountain. We had to break off here and head back for Kansas City... (more)
C&TS Train 216 swings through another one of the abundant S-Curves on the line headed towards Antonito. The train will soon drop down another hill, and then through a horseshoe curve, running bac... (more)
Now coming downgrade from Cumbres Pass, the train negotiates the east end of Tanglefoot Curve as the engineer lets loose with some melodious whistling.
Locomotive: CTS 484
7-26-16 ... (more)
Coming up to the standpipe at the Cumbres Pass Depot, Train 216 tops the grade at an elevation of 10,015 feet, 2,152 feet higher than the origin for the train 1 hour and 19 minutes earlier.
... (more)
Replicating a scene that could easily pass for 90 years ago, the narrow guage Mike rumbles past some open range cattle country on the Rio Grande San Juan Extension with C&TS Train 216.
Locom... (more)
Now just feet remaining inside New Mexico, the K-36 swings around the several S-Curves near Hamilton's Point and its train obediently follows on the way to Antonito.
Train 216 whistles for the Highway 17 grade crossing, now just a couple miles from the Colorado State Line, and still gaining elevation.
7-26-16 Dalton, NM
Still gaining elevation, and over 2,000 feet to go before the summit of Cumbres Pass, C&TS Train 216 headed for Antonito makes a tremendous racket as it churns upgrade.
Locomotive: CTS 484 ... (more)
The eastbound from Chama passes the Lobo Lodge, just past Lobato Trestle.
7-26-16 Lobato, NM
The morning's eastbound out of Chama chuffs up what was once known as the Rio Grande San Juan Extension towards Antonito just shy of Lobato Trestle.
7-26-16 Lo... (more)
The morning's eastbound out of Chama slams up the stiff grades and sharp curves of the Rio Grande San Juan Extension towards Antonito.
7-26-16 Chama, NM