No3, Amtrak's L.A. bound Southwest Chief slides into Raton, New Mexico and it's low cloud ceiling for the brief station stop after cresting the namesake pass on May 2, 2019.

Eastbound Amtrak 4 "Southwest Chief" leaves Raton (NM).

Santa Fe Caboose 999140 stands in Raton (NM) in front of the Raton Visitor Information Center.

A thick fog engulfs the small town of Raton,NM as Amtrak #3 'The Southwest Chief' prepares to makes its stop.

A 2 hour late Amtrak #4 'The Southwest Chief' starts its climb into the mountains of southern Colorado leaving the New Mexico desert behind.

The westbound Southwest Limited, Amtrak Train 3, makes its station stop at Raton, New Mexico.

Amtrak Train 4, the Southwest Limited, has completed its station stop at Raton, New Mexico, and is now continuing its eastward journey. It is beginning its ascent of Raton Pass, as it rolls... (more)

After changing crews near the Raton NM Amtrak station, ATSF BALJ is ready to ascend Raton Pass.

The caretaker at Raton, NM opens the waiting area, and looks after the station. I noticed him picking up some litter on the platform after the Southwest Chief departed and asked to take his photo.... (more)

The station at Raton, NM, is a beautiful example of Spanish influence on the area. The station dates back to 1903 and is served today by the Southwest Chief.

A Roger Puta Photograph

What started out as a plan to shoot coal trains on the famous Santa Fe Raton Pass Subdivision turned into an unplanned busy few days of following top priority intermodal and freight that was being... (more)

Its journey over Raton Pass complete, the westbound Southwest Limited stops at the mission-style station at Raton, New Mexico. Ahead is a race across the desert plains until the grade to Gl... (more)

As the quickly setting sun disappears below the horizon, the last bit of sunlight can be seen reflecting off of Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Here it idles alongside the station platform in Raton, NM ... (more)

By the mid 1980’s, freight traffic on Santa Fe’s Raton line was sparse, but not virtually nonexistent as it is today. Some of those few trains could, however be heavy enough to require helpers... (more)