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76-602: The railroad line was closed by the D&;RGW in 1968 and much of the narrow gauge trackage has since been abandoned. A surviving portion of the narrow gauge track in the route is the 64 miles (103 km) long Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad between Antonito and Chama which calls its westbound train the Colorado Limited and its eastbound train the New Mexico Express . The line from Antonito to Alamosa

152-698: A 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge, whereas Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand have metre-gauge railways . Narrow-gauge trams, particularly metre-gauge, are common in Europe. Non-industrial, narrow-gauge mountain railways are (or were) common in the Rocky Mountains of the United States and the Pacific Cordillera of Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia , Greece, and Costa Rica. A narrow-gauge railway

228-586: A 10,015-foot (3,053 m) mountain pass, and skirted a 600-foot gorge. The line then went on towards Durango, Colorado . The purpose of this extension was to tap into the mineral resources around the Silverton, Colorado area. When the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad arrived in Chama, other railroad companies were formed to take advantage of the local forests. This created a flourishing logging economy for

304-620: A class K-37 locomotive, was restored to operating condition for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in 1984 and was traded to the C&;TSRR in late October 1991 in exchange for class K-36 locomotive 482. Locomotive 497 was later taken out of service indefinitely in October 2002 and currently sits in storage in the Chama roundhouse awaiting an overhaul. On February 16, 2022,

380-425: A curve with standard-gauge rail ( 1435 mm ) can allow speed up to 145 km/h (90 mph), the same curve with narrow-gauge rail ( 1067mm ) can only allow speed up to 130 km/h (81 mph). In Japan and Queensland, recent permanent-way improvements have allowed trains on 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge tracks to exceed 160 km/h (99 mph). Queensland Rail 's Electric Tilt Train ,

456-455: A design speed of 137 km/h (85 mph). Curve radius is also important for high speeds: narrow-gauge railways allow sharper curves, but these limit a vehicle's safe speed. Many narrow gauges, from 15 in ( 381 mm ) gauge to 4 ft 8 in ( 1,422 mm ) gauge, are in present or former use. They fall into several broad categories: 4 ft 6 in ( 1,372 mm ) track gauge (also known as Scotch gauge)

532-474: A heavy-duty narrow-gauge line is Brazil's EFVM . 1,000 mm ( 3 ft  3 + 3 ⁄ 8  in ) gauge, it has over-100-pound rail (100 lb/yd or 49.6 kg/m) and a loading gauge almost as large as US non-excess-height lines. The line has a number of 4,000-horsepower (3,000 kW) locomotives and 200-plus-car trains. Narrow gauge's reduced stability means that its trains cannot run at speeds as high as on broader gauges. For example, if

608-503: A mine in Bohemia with a railway of about 2 ft ( 610 mm ) gauge. During the 16th century, railways were primarily restricted to hand-pushed, narrow-gauge lines in mines throughout Europe. In the 17th century, mine railways were extended to provide transportation above ground. These lines were industrial , connecting mines with nearby transportation points (usually canals or other waterways). These railways were usually built to

684-825: A number of large 3 ft ( 914 mm ) railroad systems in North America; notable examples include the Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande Southern in Colorado; the Texas and St. Louis Railway in Texas, Arkansas and Missouri; and, the South Pacific Coast , White Pass and Yukon Route and West Side Lumber Co of California. 3 ft was also a common track gauge in South America, Ireland and on

760-426: A small company town of the former railroad main line. It is home to the C&TSRR car shop, a water tank and other relics. Most of the facilities were built by the C&TSRR, since the original rail yard, wye, and station were not sold to the states of Colorado and New Mexico . Shortly after leaving the station, the train heads straight for three miles (4.8 km) until coming into some hills. Shortly thereafter,

836-452: A steady stream of revenue, although this was less important than oil. This increase in revenue saved the line from abandonment. All of these successes had drawbacks. The major issue with the line was Cumbres Pass itself. Cumbres Pass is 10,015 feet (3,053 m) above sea level. The high elevation and various other factors lead to many terrible snow storms. This prompted the railroad to purchase " rotary snowplows ". The two that were used on

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912-555: A stock pen and a water tank made for a movie in the 1980s. The tank was used later in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade . The water tank was knocked over in 2006, succumbing to age and high winds. Lobato Trestle is located at Lobato, and is the second-highest trestle on the line, built in 1883. Due to weight restrictions, only one locomotive at a time is allowed to cross. Hence, all double-headers must separate and rejoin on

988-517: A veteran of the railroad, to become president on December 13, 2012. Bush retired on November 14, 2020. In 1988, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the history of the railroad and help maintain infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TSRR also participates in various education programs and provides

1064-491: Is a track gauge of 1,000 mm ( 3 ft  3 + 3 ⁄ 8  in ). It has about 95,000 km (59,000 mi) of track. According to Italian law, track gauges in Italy were defined from the centre of each rail rather than the inside edges of the rails. This gauge, measured 950 mm ( 3 ft  1 + 3 ⁄ 8  in ) between the edges of the rails, is known as Italian metre gauge . There were

1140-400: Is lined with wooden pillars due to being bored through soft volcanic ash. When the beams in the tunnel collapsed, the D&RGW made a "shoo fly" (a temporary by-pass) to allow passengers and small cars to be moved around the tunnel to an awaiting train. After passing through this, trains pass around Phantom Curve and through Calico Cut, then slow when entering the longer Rock Tunnel. Trains exit

1216-526: Is now standard gauge only and belongs to the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad . Normally, from Alamosa to Chama, a K-36 (or K-37) class locomotive, either 482, 483, 484, 485, 488, or 489 would haul the 4 to 5 car consist. At Chama, the K-36 and their crew would be swapped out with a K-28 and their crews would take over from Chama, to Durango. On the return journey it would be the other way around. However, there

1292-488: Is one where the distance between the inside edges of the rails is less than 1,435 mm ( 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ). Historically, the term was sometimes used to refer to what are now standard-gauge railways , to distinguish them from broad-gauge railways , but this use no longer applies. The earliest recorded railway appears in Georgius Agricola 's 1556 De re metallica , which shows

1368-441: Is part of an effort to retire the older flat roofed cars due to their age. The C&TSRR also operates observation gondolas as well as special coaches configured to accommodate wheelchairs and house concession areas . A typical C&TSRR train includes: The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad also owns a varied collection of former D&RGW narrow-gauge freight cars for display and use in nostalgic railtours . Over

1444-497: Is photographic evidence of a K-36 locomotive hauling the train the entire length. Normally, the train would be four cars long, which consisted of a railway post office (or RPO) car, a baggage bar, a passenger car, and a parlor car . However, there is photographic evidence of the train having as many as 8 cars. One of the most frequently used locomotives on this route was and still is the steam wheel arrangement K-36 2-8-2 "Mikado" type. Other locomotives used on this route included

1520-537: Is run by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad . The line from Antonito to Alamosa is now standard gauge only and belongs to the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad . Cumbres %26 Toltec Scenic Railroad The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad , often abbreviated as the C&;TSRR , is a 3 ft ( 914 mm ) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 64 miles (103 km) of track between Antonito, Colorado , and Chama, New Mexico , in

1596-399: Is the highest trestle on the entire line, sitting at 137 ft (42 m) above the river below. The train then stops at Osier, Colorado (MP: 318.40), where passengers are served lunch in a modern, wooden indoor facility. This section covers the eastern portion of the line, from the small cattle and junction town of Antonito to Osier , the mid-point of the line. Antonito (MP 280.70) is

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1672-439: Is used as storage for parts. K-37 locomotive No. 497 is currently stored here. On the far side of the old roundhouse section are the shops where the engines are serviced and prepared for the next day. The shops have two stalls and can hold two engines inside simultaneously. On the west side of the yard is the original depot from the late 1800s, where train tickets can be purchased. There is a gift shop with various items for sale. On

1748-1021: The Isle of Man . 900 mm was a common gauge in Europe. Swedish three-foot-gauge railways ( 891 mm or 2 ft  11 + 3 ⁄ 32  in ) are unique to that country and were once common all over the country. Today the only 891 mm line that remains apart from heritage railways is Roslagsbanan , a commuter line that connects Stockholm to its northeastern suburbs. A few railways and tramways were built to 2 ft 9 in ( 838 mm ) gauge, including Nankai Main Line (later converted to 3 ft 6 in or 1,067 mm ), Ocean Pier Railway at Atlantic City , Seaton Tramway ( converted from 2 ft ) and Waiorongomai Tramway . 800 mm ( 2 ft  7 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) gauge railways are commonly used for rack railways . Imperial 2 ft 6 in ( 762 mm ) gauge railways were generally constructed in

1824-737: The K-27 , the K-28 , and the K-37 classes, along with the C-18 on occasion. One K-27 and one K-37 are used on the Cumbres and Toltec, with C-18 Rio Grande 315 periodically visiting both the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres and Toltec railroads. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad uses the portion from Antonito to Chama. The portion from Durango to Silverton (not part of the San Juan Express)

1900-410: The standard gauge of four feet eight and a half inches. This was because the narrow gauge was cheaper to build, and a narrow gauge railway can accommodate tighter-radius curves. This allowed laying track where standard gauge would not fit. From Antonito, the line continued west to Chama, New Mexico , arriving there on December 31, 1880. The track had come 64 miles (103 km) through two tunnels, over

1976-500: The steam locomotives operating on the C&TSRR are former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad locomotives. The railroad owns three classes of steam locomotives. The K-27, K-36 and K-37 engines are all outside frame 2-8-2 "Mikado" engines built by Baldwin Locomotive Works . As of 2023, of the ten steam locomotives currently owned by the C&TSRR, Nos. 463, 484, 487, 488 and 489 are all operational. Locomotive 497,

2052-473: The 1,472-day inspection and installation of the new smokebox in October 2020. On December 15, 2020, the railroad announced that they would be converting locomotive 489 to burn oil instead of coal . The decision was made "to ensure viability in diverse environmental conditions." The conversion of locomotive 489 was completed in June 2021, just in time for the opening of the 2021 operating season. On August 3, 2022,

2128-587: The 500mm gauge tracks of their mine railway ; these locomotives were made by the Deutz Gas Engine Company ( Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz ), now Deutz AG . Another early use of internal combustion was to power a narrow-gauge locomotive was in 1902. F. C. Blake built a 7 hp petrol locomotive for the Richmond Main Sewerage Board sewage plant at Mortlake . This 2 ft 9 in ( 838 mm ) gauge locomotive

2204-535: The 50th anniversary of the formation of the C&TSRR. There are currently no plans to run the rotary again anytime soon, but it is in good condition and fully functional. In 2016, D&RGW No. 168 arrived in Antonito from Colorado Springs, Colorado , for restoration to operating condition. The engine had been on display for a long time in a public park, but was in good condition. Restoration began in March 2017 and

2280-466: The C&TSRR is restoring locomotive 492 to burn coal and will also be temporarily using locomotive 497's tender behind locomotive 492. In October 2019, locomotive 489, a class K-36 locomotive, went down for a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) mandated 1,472-day inspection and replacement of the smokebox. However, the work was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The work resumed on

2356-416: The C&TSRR. For passenger services, the C&TSRR operates a mixture of flat roofed and clerestory cars , with interiors corresponding with the railroad's three classes of service: Coach , Deluxe (formerly Tourist class) and Parlor . In 2019, the car shop in Antonito, Colorado , finished the first in a line of new clerestory cars that will serve as standard passenger cars and new Parlor cars. This

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2432-559: The C&TSRR. Another engine that operates on the railroad is D&RGW No. 315. No. 315 is a C-18 class inside frame 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive. It is owned by the Durango Railroad Historical Society, but it is on indefinite loan to the C&TSRR until at least 2025. Restoration work on No. 315 was completed in August 2007, and it continues to operate on occasional special excursions on both

2508-488: The Cumbres Pass line were Rotary OM and Rotary OY. Both rotaries are still in existence in Chama, New Mexico, but historically they are dispatched from Alamosa. Every five or six years, the winter season has as much as 500 inches of snow fall on Cumbres. These snow storms were a huge financial burden for the railroad. The "Granddaddy of All Snowstorms" hit in the winter of 1951–1952. This was the worst recorded winter on

2584-473: The D&SNG and the C&TSRR. After the end of the 2021 operating season in October, No. 315 was temporarily taken out of service for its FRA federally mandated 1,472-day inspection and overhaul, but later returned to service on March 8, 2023. The C&TSRR owns two class DE General Electric 47-ton center-cab diesel locomotives built in 1943, Nos. 15 and 19, for emergency use when the steam locomotives are inoperative. They are also used for operations outside

2660-647: The Durango Railroad Historical Society) and 168 (owned by the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado), for special events and excursions. On February 20, 1880, track crews of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway (D&RG) began to lay the first rails of the San Juan Extension going south from Alamosa, Colorado , toward Antonito, Colorado, arriving in March of that year. The company chose the narrow gauge of three feet instead of

2736-952: The Philippines demonstrate that if track is built to a heavy-duty standard, performance almost as good as a standard-gauge line is possible. Two-hundred-car trains operate on the Sishen–Saldanha railway line in South Africa, and high-speed Tilt Trains run in Queensland. In South Africa and New Zealand, the loading gauge is similar to the restricted British loading gauge; in New Zealand, some British Rail Mark 2 carriages have been rebuilt with new bogies for use by Tranz Scenic (Wellington-Palmerston North service), Tranz Metro (Wellington-Masterton service), and Auckland One Rail (Auckland suburban services). Another example of

2812-499: The United States. The railroad is named for two geographical features along the route: the 10,015-foot (3,053 m)-high Cumbres Pass and the Toltec Gorge. Originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad 's narrow-gauge network, the line has been jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico since 1970. The C&TSRR is one of only two remaining parts of the former D&RGW narrow-gauge network,

2888-481: The White Pass & Yukon Route. The C&TSRR owns two ALCO steam-powered rotary snowplows , Rotary OY and Rotary OM. Rotary OM was purchased in the late 1800s by the D&RGW and has served the line ever since. It has not been run since the 1970s because of mechanical issues. Rotary OY was built by ALCO in the 1920s and has served in several places on the line. It was last run in late winter of 2020 to begin

2964-417: The bridge was out of service, the C&TSRR operated limited services from the Chama end while trains from Antonito only traveled to Osier and back. After undergoing extensive refurbishment, the bridge was reopened on June 20, 2011. In December 2023, some former Cumbres & Toltec employees filed a lawsuit against the railroad over discrimination issues. In 1973, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

3040-975: The coal industry. Some sugar cane lines in Cuba were 2 ft  3 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 699 mm ). 2 ft ( 610 mm ) gauge railways were generally constructed in the former British colonies. The U.S. had a number of railways of that gauge , including several in the state of Maine such as the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway . 1 ft  11 + 3 ⁄ 4  in ( 603 mm ), 600 mm ( 1 ft  11 + 5 ⁄ 8  in ) and 1 ft  11 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 597 mm ) were used in Europe. Gauges below 1 ft  11 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 597 mm ) were rare. Arthur Percival Heywood developed 15 in ( 381 mm ) gauge estate railways in Britain and Decauville produced

3116-410: The development of the region it served. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad operates between late May and late October, with two trains (one in each direction) departing each morning from Antonito, Colorado , and Chama, New Mexico . Both trains meet at Osier, Colorado , for lunch. At Osier, lunch is served to passengers in a modern dining hall. From there, passengers have the option to continue to

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3192-490: The east and begins the downhill section. At "Tanglefoot Curve", the track doubles back on itself to lose elevation gradually. Here, the trains going downhill will perform a boiler blowdown. This is where the engine releases steam from the boiler to clear sediments at the bottom of the boiler. From there, the track turns north up the Los Piños Valley. The track continues a gentle descent on the average 1.45% grade to

3268-473: The extensive snow shed and the Section House, which replaced the original depot after it was demolished in the 1950s. Cumbres is the highest point on the railroad and the highest elevation of any narrow-gauge railroad in North America. Upon reaching the pass, the engine must take on water, as it has used about 3 ⁄ 4 of its supply. After taking on water and a short brake test, the train departs to

3344-544: The fastest train in Australia and the fastest 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge train in the world, set a record of 210 km/h (130 mph). The speed record for 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow-gauge rail is 245 km/h (152 mph), set in South Africa in 1978. A special 2 ft ( 610 mm ) gauge railcar was built for the Otavi Mining and Railway Company with

3420-575: The former British colonies . 760 mm Bosnian gauge and 750 mm railways are predominantly found in Russia and Eastern Europe. Gauges such as 2 ft 3 in ( 686 mm ), 2 ft 4 in ( 711 mm ) and 2 ft  4 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 724 mm ) were used in parts of the UK, particularly for railways in Wales and the borders, with some industrial use in

3496-460: The less fortunate. After the C&TSRR was formed in 1971, a bi-state agency, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission was created. Railroad operations were then contracted to third-party rail operators. In 2012, after long discussions with other third-parties bidding to take over, the Commission formed its own operating company, Cumbres and Toltec Operating LLC They hired John Bush,

3572-488: The line and one of the deciding factors when abandonment was considered in the 1960s. In September 1968, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad filed for abandonment of its narrow gauge lines. In April 1969, legislation was signed in New Mexico that provided a way for the state of New Mexico to buy the track between Chama and Antonito. In 1970, Colorado passed similar legislation. The two states took joint ownership of

3648-409: The line and, by 1971, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was formed. In 2002, the C&TSRR was shut down twice, first in the spring to resolve track bed issues. In the summer, operations were suspended again because of wildfire dangers. On June 23, 2010, an unknown fire severely damaged Lobato Trestle, a deck girder bridge located approximately four miles (6.4 km) east of Chama. While

3724-538: The normal operating season. Both came from the Oahu Railway and Land Company ; No. 19 was purchased by the C&TSRR in 1972 and is currently stationed in Antonito . No. 15 was previously leased by the Georgetown Loop Railroad in the early 1990s and eventually purchased in 2013 where it is currently stationed in Chama . In November 2023, the C&TSRR acquired a Bombardier-built DL-535E from

3800-423: The north until it reaches Los Piños tank. This tank is always full and is used for small engines and rotary trains. The track takes a gentle loop off to the west and comes back to the east at the station of Los Piños (MP: 324.8). There is nothing here except a siding and the station sign. The track then turns back north towards Osier, Colorado. Just before Osier, at Milepost 320, the track crosses Cascade Trestle. This

3876-412: The other being the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG), which runs between the communities of Durango and Silverton, Colorado . The railroad has a total of ten narrow-gauge steam locomotives (five of which are operational) and two narrow-gauge diesel locomotives on its current roster. The railroad also operates two smaller former D&RGW steam locomotives, Nos. 315 (owned by

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3952-402: The other side of the railroad, or they can switch trains and return to their point of origin. Once the westbound train arrives at Cumbres Pass, passengers have the option to board motorcoaches to return to Antonito, or they can save an hour and continue into Chama. The continental-divide trail brings hikers through Cumbres Pass as well. The railroad offers these hikers a ride down the mountain from

4028-411: The other side. The bridge was rebuilt in 2011 after a fire nearly destroyed it. From here to Cumbres, the railroad operates on the north side of Wolf Creek. There are several old stations along the line. The first is Dalton (MP: 335.5). There is nothing at Dalton besides the station sign. Next on the journey to the top at Cumbres, the train passes Cresco Siding and water tank (MP 335.5). Just before this,

4104-486: The pass if desired. At the end of the day at both ends, motorcoaches are again provided for passengers who came from the opposite end. The motorcoach ride is about one hour long. In addition to the through service, the C&TSRR operates various special excursions during the season such as dinner trains . On certain days during the holiday season, the railroad offers special "Santa Trains" from both Chama and Antonito, and guests are encouraged to bring gifts and/or food for

4180-406: The railroad announced that K-37 locomotives 492 and 497 will both be evaluated to see which one is in better shape to be restored back to operating condition. After careful evaluation, locomotive 492 was chosen for restoration instead of locomotive 497. On August 9, 2023, locomotive 492 was moved off of its storage track and moved into the Chama roundhouse in preparation for the restoration. Currently,

4256-464: The railroad announced that parts have been ordered for a second K-36 locomotive, locomotive 487, to be converted to burn oil over the winter of 2022 to 2023. The T-12 No. 168 is a 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" type inside frame engine also built by Baldwin Locomotive Works . This is the oldest steam locomotive operated by the railroad. Restoration work on No. 168 was completed in October 2019, and it now continues to operate on occasional special excursions on

4332-420: The railroad guides, known as docents , who inform passengers of historical aspects of the railroad as well as locations of interest. The Chama yard is located at milepost 344.12. Here, the railroad stores most of its freight cars and both rotary snowplows, Rotary OY and Rotary OM. On the east side is part of the original roundhouse from the D&RGW. A fire burned most of the roundhouse years ago; what remains

4408-550: The same narrow gauge as the mine railways from which they developed. The world's first steam locomotive , built in 1802 by Richard Trevithick for the Coalbrookdale Company, ran on a 3 ft ( 914 mm ) plateway . The first commercially successful steam locomotive was Matthew Murray 's Salamanca built in 1812 for the 4 ft 1 in ( 1,245 mm ) Middleton Railway in Leeds . Salamanca

4484-403: The south end of the yard, over 100 freight cars are visible. The yard is open and can be toured by anyone. About 40 of the cars in the yard are operational. From Chama, the railroad proceeds northeast after crossing Rio Chama. About one mile (1.6 km) later, the railroad begins up the mountain on a grade averaging 4%. The first siding on the line is at Lobato (MP: 339.99). Here are remnants of

4560-573: The town. There were lumber mills located to the west and south of Chama. These mills provided a steady stream of revenue for the railroad, lasting until abandonment in the late 1960s. After World War II , there was an oil boom in Farmington, New Mexico . This boom provided a surge of revenue for the railroad. This revenue consisted of 60-car pipe trains going west from Antonito. The Gramps Oil Fields of southern Colorado provided oil cargo for trains from Chama to Antonito. The lumber mills also provided

4636-416: The track crosses the state line for the first time. This water tank is used when operating smaller engines, such as No. 315 and No. 168 , and for rotary trains. The route then enters a small canyon past Hamilton's Point. Exiting the canyon, the track makes a turn to the northwest and up Wolf Creek through Coxo. At Coxo, there is a short siding for maintenance equipment and a station sign. At a narrow point of

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4712-427: The track rounds Whiplash Curve, a double-horseshoe curve. About one mile (1,600 m) from Whiplash Curve lie the sidings and wye at Big Horn. Past Big Horn, the train loops around the sides of mountains, going through horseshoe curves before reaching the first water stop at Sublette. Sublette is an abandoned railroad section camp, consisting of a log bunk house, a section house, a siding and other buildings. There

4788-475: The traffic potential would not justify the cost of a standard- or broad-gauge line. Narrow-gauge railways have specialised use in mines and other environments where a small structure gauge necessitates a small loading gauge . In some countries, narrow gauge is the standard: Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Australian states of Queensland , Western Australia and Tasmania have

4864-459: The train crosses Ferguson's Trestle (MP 285.87), named for a man who was hanged from a locomotive there. The original trestle was featured in the 1988 television movie Where the Hell's That Gold? , starring Willie Nelson and Delta Burke . In filming, an explosion mishap occurred and the bridge was burned down. Traffic was halted for a week while the C&TSRR built a temporary bridge. Next winter,

4940-424: The trestle was rebuilt, matching the original. About three miles (four point eight kilometres) later, the train makes the first of 11 crossings into New Mexico and climbs a ledge up to a lava mesa. Lava (291.55) has the old water tank from Antonito, which was moved here in 1971. The track goes around a horseshoe curve that is also used as a reversing loop to turn the rotary snow plow trains from Chama . Heading west,

5016-447: The tunnel entering Toltec Gorge, where the track is 600 ft (180 m) above the river. The line then follows the river to Osier. * No. 168 is owned by the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado. No. 315 is owned by the Durango Railroad Historical Society. Both locomotives are stored and serviced at the C&TSRR through agreements with their respective owners and used on special excursions, hence their inclusion on this roster. All of

5092-510: The valley, the track makes a horseshoe turn up to Windy Point. Windy Point is an outcrop of volcanic rock where the wind blows so hard that the smoke from the trains often will blow towards the front of the train instead of the rear. This is less than a quarter of a mile from Cumbres Pass, the highest point on the line At Cumbres (MP 330.60), elevation 10,015 ft (3,053 m), is the Car Inspector's House, Water Standpipe, remnants of

5168-565: The world; 19th-century mountain logging operations often used narrow-gauge railways to transport logs from mill to market. Significant sugarcane railways still operate in Cuba, Fiji, Java, the Philippines, and Queensland, and narrow-gauge railway equipment remains in common use for building tunnels. In 1897, a manganese mine in the Lahn valley in Germany was using two benzine -fueled locomotives with single cylinder internal combustion engines on

5244-1028: The years, the railroad was featured in several documentaries and films. Among these are: Narrow-gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway ( narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than 1,435 mm ( 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) standard gauge . Most narrow-gauge railways are between 600 mm ( 1 ft  11 + 5 ⁄ 8  in ) and 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ). Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves , smaller structure gauges , and lighter rails ; they can be less costly to build, equip, and operate than standard- or broad-gauge railways (particularly in mountainous or difficult terrain). Lower-cost narrow-gauge railways are often used in mountainous terrain, where engineering savings can be substantial. Lower-cost narrow-gauge railways are often built to serve industries as well as sparsely populated communities where

5320-525: Was adopted by early 19th-century railways, primarily in the Lanarkshire area of Scotland. 4 ft  6 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 1,384 mm ) lines were also constructed, and both were eventually converted to standard gauge. 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ) between the inside of the rail heads, its name and classification vary worldwide and it has about 112,000 kilometres (70,000 mi) of track. As its name implies, metre gauge

5396-563: Was also the first rack-and-pinion locomotive. During the 1820s and 1830s, a number of industrial narrow-gauge railways in the United Kingdom used steam locomotives. In 1842, the first narrow-gauge steam locomotive outside the UK was built for the 1,100 mm ( 3 ft  7 + 5 ⁄ 16  in )-gauge Antwerp-Ghent Railway in Belgium. The first use of steam locomotives on a public, passenger-carrying narrow-gauge railway

5472-402: Was completed in October 2019. The restoration project was headed up by Cumbres and Toltec Special Projects department and led by Assistant General Manager Efstathios Papas. The project cost $ 508,000 and spanned 27 months. The railroad intends to use this engine frequently in normal excursion service as much as possible. As of 2023, No. 168 continues to operate in occasional special excursions on

5548-560: Was in 1865, when the Ffestiniog Railway introduced passenger service after receiving its first locomotives two years earlier. Many narrow-gauge railways were part of industrial enterprises and served primarily as industrial railways , rather than general carriers. Common uses for these industrial narrow-gauge railways included mining, logging, construction, tunnelling, quarrying, and conveying agricultural products. Extensive narrow-gauge networks were constructed in many parts of

5624-534: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its boundaries were increased in 2007. The railroad was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1976. In 2012, the railroad was designated a National Historic Landmark , for its engineering, well-preserved infrastructure and equipment and the role of the railroad in

5700-419: Was once a water tank at the western end of the siding. Today, in its place, there is a standpipe. After the tender is filled with water, the train slowly creeps into lush aspen groves. Following Sublette is Toltec Siding, which in the 1950s was the meeting place for oil well pipe trains moving between Chama and Farmington to Alamosa . Shortly afterwards, trains pass through Mud Tunnel, which is unique because it

5776-592: Was probably the third petrol-engined locomotive built. Extensive narrow-gauge rail systems served the front-line trenches of both sides in World War I . They were a short-lived military application, and after the war the surplus equipment created a small boom in European narrow-gauge railway building. The heavy-duty 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow-gauge railways in Australia (Queensland), New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and

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