An eastbound freight has departed Carbon Junction for Chama. The grade east from Carbon Junction was a steady 2 percent for about seven miles to the top of the mesa just west of Falfa.
The DRGW narrow gauge was the last major steam operation in the U.S. The climb over 10,000 foot Cumbres pass was spectacular, with two engines handling 70 car trains. Hopefully these images convey some of the drama of mountain steam railroading.