Steam & Excursion > C&TS Action, Part III

Better late than never...anyhow, here we are in the third and final installment of the Cumbres & Toltec's 100th Anniversary of its K-36 fleet.  The last day of the trip started with an early drive over the mountains to Antonito where we loaded up early, so as to get to Hangman's Trestle for sunrise.  We then went west to Cumbres Pass, and returned to Antonito by bus.  And with that, on to the photos.

Find Part 1 (with background) here:
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,6082976,6082976#msg-6082976

Part 2 (eastward over Cumbres Pass) here:
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,6086666,6086666#msg-6086666

1 - A sunrise runby in the chilly desert at Hangman's Trestle, where we hung around for quite a while.

2 - A quick and dirty edit of the day's video.  The full-length version will be on that video site in a few days.

---

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

3, 4, 5 - After the sun came up, we did several more runbys (runbies?) at Hangman's Trestle.  488 was once again leading, and this time we had 484 cut in as a mid-train helper.

---

---

---

6 - Rounding the fill at Lava Tank, still in the high desert.

7 - Passing the tank itself on the next runby.

8 - Another runby at MP309.  Some of the photo line can be seen in the foreground, since there was just not enough room at this location to get everyone in one spot.

---

---

---

9 - Passing over Cascade Trestle.

10 - Drone view of Cascade.

11 - 488 brings the train into Tanglefoot Curve.

---

---

---

12 - A panned shot of 488 from the other camera.

13 - An overview of the facilities at Antonito.

14 - On Monday morning, things quieted down and it was back to business as usual on the C&TS.  Here 488 gets ready to take the regular train up the hill.  The stripped-down carcass is K-37 #492.

---

---

---

15 - 488 brings the Monday morning train out of the Narrows.  In hindsight, I should have sent the drone for an overhead look at Lobato Trestle.

16 - Passing Cresco Tank.

17 - Video of 488 on Monday morning.  Turn your sound up to 11 - I put this into a separate video so that the stack talk can be heard and appreciated.

Some other observations:
Its pretty clear that New Mexico needs the C&TS much more than Colorado does.  Durango is a pretty built-up area with every amenity for the visitor (even airline service), and offers easy access to Mesa Verde National Park.  Economically, Chama doesn't have much else going on besides the railroad - even Silverton can still draw traffic off the Million Dollar Highway after the train is gone for the day.  Someone in Chama told us that the town has still not recovered from the exodus of people who left during Covid and haven't returned.  The only chain businesses are Subway and Napa Auto Parts; all of the lodging options are locally-owned, which is certainly not the case in Durango.

Comparing the C&TS to the Durango & Silverton, as we sometimes do on this forum, is much more apples-and-oranges than I would have thought - about the only things they have in common are track gauge, both run K-36s as the backbone of their fleet, and both feature a location known as Cascade.  Beyond that, the D&SNG features lesser grades and (mostly) gentler curves, with the C&TS strongly resembling a roller coaster.

And most noticeably, the D&SNG is clearly the beneficiary of a much larger annual budget than the C&TS.  That's not a knock on anyone, its just a symptom of reality - the D&SNG is in a built-up area with a number of other tourist draws, and thus attracts more passengers, whereas the C&TS is at the whim of New Mexico and especially Colorado elected officials for the bulk of its funding.  That it survives in 2025 is a minor miracle.

---

---

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

Superlative coverage!
BOb

Very nice steam action with photos and video :-)

Thanks for taking the ride!

OUTSTANDING!

These photos and videos were great. (Clearly I need to pay more attention to the Steam Board.) I'm glad your VOTD brought me over here.

Great stuff..!!  Thanks for posting.

pennsy3750 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 13 - An overview of the facilities at Antonito.

Thank you for posting that. I love it.

Too me, the behind the scenes does not get enough attention. All the action pictures and videos would not be possible without all that goes on behind the scenes.