Steam on high! The daily train from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO claws its way up the last half mile of the 4% grade to Cumbres Pass amidst freshly fallen snow. For steam railroading in the United States, this is about as high as it gets, with the altimeter approaching 10,000 ft above sea-level. The locomotive is working very hard and the stack bark can be heard for several miles. In just a couple of minutes, she'll round Windy Point and pull into Cumbres Station for a much-needed drink from the standpipe.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
