Steam & Excursion > Triple-Header up to Cumbres Pass

October 24th, a wonderful day in my life to witness the Cumbres & Toltec run a special Triple-headed steam train up the 4% grade to Cumbres Pass from Chama, NM. I worked my trvael plans of visiting customers in NM and AZ to fit stopping here for a day. About 50 or so patrons paid to ride the train, while about an equal number of folk paid to chase and photograph the train. Weather started out a overcast, but the sun made numerous cameo appearances throughout. The cold air of the morning highlighted both the smoke and the steam.
1. Getting set up at the Chama depot
2. 8 AM, the whistles blaring and heading north from the Chama water tank
3. Just north of town, and the first photo run-by
Lothar
Corinth, TX
 

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4. Stopping just ahead of Lobato Trestle
5 & 6. At Lobo Lodge and just beyond
Lothar

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7. Taken from the 2nd highway crossing, sun came out in full force
8. Some of the snaking curves before Cresco
9. At Milemarker 334
Lothar

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10. About to cross Hwy 17 in CO
11. Arrival at Cumbres Pass....elevation 10,015'
12. Magnificent sun again at Cumbres
Lothar

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13. Another shot with the 3 horses at Cumbres
At Cumbres, the 3 units were split up, the 463 was wyed for the solo return to Chama, the 484 went on solo to Osier, while the 489 unit takes the 30-car train solo down the 1.42% drop to Osier.
14. Just below Tanglefoot
15. Near Milemarker 328
Lothar

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16. Dropping down past the Los Pinos watertank
17. Passing the old Los Pinos phone booth
Lothar

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Did Rio Grande ever run a triple-header up the hill? If not, then what's the point? I prefer photo charters I participate in to be as accurate as possible to what actually happened back in the day. 

Stunning stuff man! Thanks for sharing.

Chris Bost
Leesport, PA

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Did Rio Grande ever run a triple-header up the
> hill? If not, then what's the point? I prefer
> photo charters I participate in to be as accurate
> as possible to what actually happened back in the
> day. 

The Rio Grande did run three locomotive trains up the hill.  Typcially, it was two locomotives on the point, and one ahead of the caboose.  The decision to run the charter with 3 locos on the point was made by the charter operator.

Up in the Gunnison area, during the movement of livestock, the Rio Grande, would run livestock trains with four K-36's & 37's.

lotharb ---
Man, those are stunning photos!  I LOVE #2
especially, and #s 11 and 12, too.  That was
one very impressive train!  *30* cars??  WOW!
And the sound must have been INCREDIBLE!!

LOVE the condensing steam!   When it is cold
enough, it is awesome.

Thanks so much for chasing and photographing
this wonderful and very imrpressive train, and for
posting your photos here.

Absolutely outstanding photos.

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Did Rio Grande ever run a triple-header up the
> hill? If not, then what's the point? I prefer
> photo charters I participate in to be as accurate
> as possible to what actually happened back in the
> day. 

People paid good money to ride this special and had a great time doing it. That IS the point.

They did so on Cumbres too.  Although the normal locomotive configuration was 1 on the point, 2 mid train, 1 ahead of the caboose.  That way if they stalled, they could cut the train in half and use three engines to get each half to the top (1 on the point and 2 on the rear on the first cut, 2 on the point and one on the rear for the second cut).  When a 3 engine train was run out of Chama, it was 2 on the point, one ahead of the caboose.

I really, really need to set aside the time to do this. Fantastic photos Lothar!

Chris