There's gold in them there hills! The hills of the Chama Valley are ablaze with aspen gold as a short stock train slowly claws its way up the 4% grade toward Cumbres Pass. On level ground, the little C-18 Class Consolidation seen here might normally handle a reasonable size train of perhaps a dozen cars, but on this hill, she's pretty much at her limit with what you see here. And truth be told, if these cars were full of USDA Grade A moo cows, the train might be even shorter. Small wonder that 3-engine trains were common on Cumbres turns when C-class power ruled the mountain. Even the mighty K-36s, which were built 30 years after this engine are maxed out at 7-8 loaded tourist cars.
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.
