Posted on 01/28/2019 5:05:15 PM PST by CedarDave
Traveling for 64-miles along the border between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad chugs its way up and over the 10,015 foot high Cumbres Pass. Built in 1880, the C&TS Railroad has revealed the staggering beauty of the American west for nearly a 140 years. Filmmakers Annie and Russell O. Bush tell the the story of those who built and maintain this American tradition through the lens of lifetime railroader John Bush in this powerful short.
Sounds interesting.
Saw that short film last evening. Started to check for airports this morning. Denver or Albuquerque, ahhh just dreaming.
Yes and no. McDonald's on the other side of the station in Durango, Condos all along the flat stretch before the highway 550 crossing at Hermosa, and now at Rockwood. The Purgatory Ski area is to the west and maybe not seen from the train. After Rockwood to Silverton there are none of these, but there is a wilderness camp with zip-lines crossing over the tracks.
Different from when I was there in the 1990’s.
The big difference is the ballast. Until recent years, the track was mainly on native material (gravel, sand, mud) and rotting ties, and subject to washouts. Except for the lack of welded rail, the railroad has a very smooth ride, much more so than its neighbor, the Durango and Silverton and other short lines.
Bush was wrong when he said everything is done as it was in the past. The RR has some equipment used to align track and place ballast. Rotted ties are still replaced by hand as shown. When you’re spending all day on the train, rough track is a turn-off and, with trip reviews on line, can affect future ridership.
Originally from Ontario, Canada, he worked in the logging industry during his younger years in northern Michigan till he had an unfortunate accident. He was hit by a runaway railroad flat car that crushed his leg and it had to be amputated. No hospitals around there at the time so it was done on his kitchen table......
Thanks for the update.
You dog you
It was actually embarrassing.
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