Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Hidden away in a little-known corner of the southern Rocky Mountains is a precious historic artifact of the American West. Built in 1880 and little changed since, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the most spectacular example of steam era mountain railroading in North America.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension, which served the silver mining district of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado. Like all of the Rio Grande at the time, it was built to a gauge of 3 feet between the rails, instead of the more common 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches that became standard in the United States. The inability to interchange cars with other railroads led the Rio Grande to begin converting its tracks to standard gauge in 1890.

Cumbres & ToltecHowever, with the repeal of the Sherman Act in 1893 and its devastating effect on the silver mining industry, traffic over the San Juan Extension failed to warrant conversion to standard gauge. Over the ensuing decades it became an isolated anachronism, receiving its last major upgrades in equipment and infrastructure in the 1920s. A post-World War II natural gas boom brought a brief period of prosperity to the line, but operations dwindled to a trickle in the 1960s. Finally, in 1969 the Interstate Commerce Commission granted the Rio Grande’s request to abandon its remaining narrow gauge main line trackage, thereby ending the last use of steam locomotives in general freight service in the United States.

Most of the abandoned track was dismantled soon after the ICC’s decision, but through the combined efforts of an energetic and resourceful group of railway preservationists and local civic interests, the most scenic portion of the line was saved. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama, nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility, for $547,120. The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

Today the railroad is operated for the states by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission, an interstate agency authorized by an act of Congress in 1974. Care of the historic assets, and interpretation of the railroad is entrusted to the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a non-profit, member-based organization whose mission is to preserve and interpret the railroad as a living history museum for the benefit of the public, and for the people of Colorado and New Mexico, who own it.

History of The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension, which served the silver mining district of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado. Like all of the Rio Grande at the time, it was built to a gauge of 3 feet between the rails, instead of the more common 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches that became standard in the United States. The inability to interchange cars with other railroads led the Rio Grande to begin converting its tracks to standard gauge in 1890.

However, with the repeal of the Sherman Act in 1893 and its devastating effect on the silver mining industry, traffic over the San Juan Extension failed to warrant conversion to standard gauge. Over the ensuing decades it became an isolated anachronism, receiving its last major upgrades in equipment and infrastructure in the 1920s. A post-World War II natural gas boom brought a brief period of prosperity to the line, but operations dwindled to a trickle in the 1960s. Finally, in 1969 the Interstate Commerce Commission granted the Rio Grande’s request to abandon its remaining narrow gauge main line trackage, thereby ending the last use of steam locomotives in general freight service in the United States.

Most of the abandoned track was dismantled soon after the ICC’s decision, but through the combined efforts of an energetic and resourceful group of railway preservationists and local civic interests, the most scenic portion of the line was saved. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama, nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility, for $547,120. The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

Today the railroad is operated for the states by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission, an interstate agency authorized by an act of Congress in 1974. Care of the historic assets, and interpretation of the railroad is entrusted to the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a non-profit, member-based organization whose mission is to preserve and interpret the railroad as a living history museum for the benefit of the public, and for the people of Colorado and New Mexico, who own it.

Contact & Directions

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railraod

1.888.CUMBRES

500 Terrace Avenue
Chama, NM 87520
Chama Depot: 888-286-2737

5234 B Hwy 285
Antonito, CO 81120.
Antonito Depot: 877-890-2737

www.cumbrestoltec.com
info@cumbrestoltec.com

Directions to The Cumbres & Toltec Railroad

The C&TS is located along the Colorado-New Mexico border, with terminals in Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. Refer to the map below for general highway directions. Also for suggested itineraries check out https://cumbrestoltec.com/things-to-do-new-mexico/ for full listing of activities, attractions and events. Coming in from the North, you can also check out alamosa.org for information on the San Luis Valley.

The nearest major airports are Albuquerue International Sunport in New Mexico and Denver International Airport in Colorado. You can also fly into Alamosa, Colorado from Denver International Airport .

Getting to Antonito. Antonito is on US Highway 285, 28 miles south of Alamosa, Colorado, and 115 miles north of Santa Fe. The depot is located at the intersection of US Highway 285 and CO Highway 17, on the southern edge of town. Consult the map to the side for highway directions to town. Physical Address: 5234 B Hwy 285, Antonito, CO 81120.

Getting to Chama. Chama is on US Highway 64/84, 47 miles east of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, 95 miles west of Taos, and 108 miles north of Santa Fe. The station is in the center of town along NM Highway 17. Consult the map to the side for highway directions. Physical Address: 500 Terrace Avenue, Chama, NM 87520

Road Conditions. Construction projects may delay your journey to Chama or Antonito. Allow plenty of time to arrive at your originating station by 20-30 minutes before the boarding time shown on your ticket. Our trains and motor coaches leave promptly.

+ ABOUT

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Hidden away in a little-known corner of the southern Rocky Mountains is a precious historic artifact of the American West. Built in 1880 and little changed since, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the most spectacular example of steam era mountain railroading in North America.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension, which served the silver mining district of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado. Like all of the Rio Grande at the time, it was built to a gauge of 3 feet between the rails, instead of the more common 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches that became standard in the United States. The inability to interchange cars with other railroads led the Rio Grande to begin converting its tracks to standard gauge in 1890.

Cumbres & ToltecHowever, with the repeal of the Sherman Act in 1893 and its devastating effect on the silver mining industry, traffic over the San Juan Extension failed to warrant conversion to standard gauge. Over the ensuing decades it became an isolated anachronism, receiving its last major upgrades in equipment and infrastructure in the 1920s. A post-World War II natural gas boom brought a brief period of prosperity to the line, but operations dwindled to a trickle in the 1960s. Finally, in 1969 the Interstate Commerce Commission granted the Rio Grande’s request to abandon its remaining narrow gauge main line trackage, thereby ending the last use of steam locomotives in general freight service in the United States.

Most of the abandoned track was dismantled soon after the ICC’s decision, but through the combined efforts of an energetic and resourceful group of railway preservationists and local civic interests, the most scenic portion of the line was saved. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama, nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility, for $547,120. The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

Today the railroad is operated for the states by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission, an interstate agency authorized by an act of Congress in 1974. Care of the historic assets, and interpretation of the railroad is entrusted to the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a non-profit, member-based organization whose mission is to preserve and interpret the railroad as a living history museum for the benefit of the public, and for the people of Colorado and New Mexico, who own it.

+ HISTORY

History of The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension, which served the silver mining district of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado. Like all of the Rio Grande at the time, it was built to a gauge of 3 feet between the rails, instead of the more common 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches that became standard in the United States. The inability to interchange cars with other railroads led the Rio Grande to begin converting its tracks to standard gauge in 1890.

However, with the repeal of the Sherman Act in 1893 and its devastating effect on the silver mining industry, traffic over the San Juan Extension failed to warrant conversion to standard gauge. Over the ensuing decades it became an isolated anachronism, receiving its last major upgrades in equipment and infrastructure in the 1920s. A post-World War II natural gas boom brought a brief period of prosperity to the line, but operations dwindled to a trickle in the 1960s. Finally, in 1969 the Interstate Commerce Commission granted the Rio Grande’s request to abandon its remaining narrow gauge main line trackage, thereby ending the last use of steam locomotives in general freight service in the United States.

Most of the abandoned track was dismantled soon after the ICC’s decision, but through the combined efforts of an energetic and resourceful group of railway preservationists and local civic interests, the most scenic portion of the line was saved. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama, nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility, for $547,120. The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

Today the railroad is operated for the states by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission, an interstate agency authorized by an act of Congress in 1974. Care of the historic assets, and interpretation of the railroad is entrusted to the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a non-profit, member-based organization whose mission is to preserve and interpret the railroad as a living history museum for the benefit of the public, and for the people of Colorado and New Mexico, who own it.

+ CONTACT

Contact & Directions

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railraod

1.888.CUMBRES

500 Terrace Avenue
Chama, NM 87520
Chama Depot: 888-286-2737

5234 B Hwy 285
Antonito, CO 81120.
Antonito Depot: 877-890-2737

www.cumbrestoltec.com
info@cumbrestoltec.com

Directions to The Cumbres & Toltec Railroad

The C&TS is located along the Colorado-New Mexico border, with terminals in Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. Refer to the map below for general highway directions. Also for suggested itineraries check out https://cumbrestoltec.com/things-to-do-new-mexico/ for full listing of activities, attractions and events. Coming in from the North, you can also check out alamosa.org for information on the San Luis Valley.

The nearest major airports are Albuquerue International Sunport in New Mexico and Denver International Airport in Colorado. You can also fly into Alamosa, Colorado from Denver International Airport .

Getting to Antonito. Antonito is on US Highway 285, 28 miles south of Alamosa, Colorado, and 115 miles north of Santa Fe. The depot is located at the intersection of US Highway 285 and CO Highway 17, on the southern edge of town. Consult the map to the side for highway directions to town. Physical Address: 5234 B Hwy 285, Antonito, CO 81120.

Getting to Chama. Chama is on US Highway 64/84, 47 miles east of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, 95 miles west of Taos, and 108 miles north of Santa Fe. The station is in the center of town along NM Highway 17. Consult the map to the side for highway directions. Physical Address: 500 Terrace Avenue, Chama, NM 87520

Road Conditions. Construction projects may delay your journey to Chama or Antonito. Allow plenty of time to arrive at your originating station by 20-30 minutes before the boarding time shown on your ticket. Our trains and motor coaches leave promptly.