Two spouts, no waiting. The early morning sun filters through the grove of trees on the east side of the Chama Yard as multiple steam locomotives are readied for duty on Cumbres turns. In the foreground, a mighty K-36, being hostled for a mid-day departure, eases up to the east-side spout of the Chama Tank to fill her tender and wash the coal pile. On the west-side spout, a K-27 Mudhen tops off before departing the yard with a large cut of oil tanks. Yeah, there's a reason why this massive wooden water tank was built with spouts on both sides. When the D&RGW is running cuts of freight cars over Cumbres Pass, the little Chama Yard gets to be a rather busy place!
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.
