Steam & Excursion > 315 on the Cumbres & Toltec

I was in Chama, NM at the beginning of the month for 4 relaxing days on the Cumbres & Toltec. I spent the first 2 days on the Chama side chasing the regular train, before heading over to Antonito, CO to ride a 2-day photo charter pulled by D&RGW 2-8-0 #315. Organized by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec and the Durango Railroad Historical Society (owner and operator of the 315), this trip ran from Antonito to 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass on the 1st day, and then returned to Antonito the next day. Here are a few highlights from the trip.

-James
http://www.steamtrainvideos.com

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Wonderful video! Thank you for sharing this with the TO crowd.

Though I've visited both the C&TS and the D&S and appreciate what both have to offer I have to say what a pleasant change it is to see motive power so different from the various outside frame 2-8-2's that power the normal scheduled runs. Great consist, locations and video work and I especially enjoyed the shot where the consist "disappears" behind the water tank. Thanks for sharing.

What a treasure!

looking at this....

perhaps what it may have been like if we had state of the art video cameras 60 years ago

reminds me a bit of the RGS that vanished not long after WW2

Great video -- thanks!

Loved the video and choice of locations.

Great little loco as well!

John.

James, you never fail to provide us with the finest quality videos. Thank you.

If anyone wants to see 315 run on the Cumbres and Toltec, there are 2 more outings planned for this year.

The first is an Antonito to Osier to Antonito trip on Monday August 28th, right before the Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver. I believe this trip will have 315 pulling a few of the regular C&TS passenger cars with a couple of photo runby's included. Ticket info here:
https://www.dynamicticketsolutions.com/candt/index.cfm?pgfn=list&template_trip_ID=0&DateDetail=2017-08-28&FB=0
The second outing is another charter put on by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec on Sept 4th, 5th, 6th. 315 will be included on the 2nd day of this trip which features K-27 #463 renumbered to #455 and lettered for the Rio Grande Southern. Details here: http://www.cumbrestoltec.org/images/stories/2017Articles/2017%20September%20Charter%20Flyer%20revised%205-25.pdf

-James
http://www.steamtrainvideos.com

Since the 315's homebase is Silverton, I was wondering who operates it when it is on "foreign" rails!

TomPlatten Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since the 315's homebase is Silverton, I was
> wondering who operates it when it is on "foreign"
> rails!

A Durango & Silverton engineer runs on the D&S; a Cumbres & Toltec engineer runs on the C&TS. DRHS volunteers fire the locomotive wherever they run.

And if you want to actually run the 315 yourself (under supervision of course), C&TS is discussing/thinking of a possible engineering school with the engine as an option to run. :-)

Contact them for more details or if you are interested.

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

Fantastic!! It feels like 1950 all over again!

Nice footage James, Have you had many flat tires lately in the mountains of Colorado or N.M. Just wondering, was glad to help you back in 2013 during a run to Osier from Sublette, also again thank you for giving me tips on how to shoot Phantom curve, fun place to chase.

---