Replies

I remember when the Durango and Silverton Railroad. went clear down through Aztec NM to Farmington back in 1956. It ended going West just north of the San Juan Hospital as we had to cross the tracks to get to the hospital.

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad used to go to Telluride.

Not so much anymore.

It’s great that two remnant sections remain to experience.

All that ended in 1968 when all but the D&S and C&TS segments were abandoned and the rails torn up. The Cumbres and Toltec was saved 50 years ago by volunteers and with a purchase by the states of New Mexico and Colorado. Now operation is financed by ticket prices and capital expenses covered by the two states.

But it was the volunteers who really saved it, young men mostly, who spent late summer and early fall of 1970 collecting and moving all equipment from Alamosa to the line west of Antonito before the scrapper arrived. Men who had no RR experience and learned as they went. There were a few Rio Grande employees who helped teach how to fire and run a steam engine, but it was up to the volunteers to do the work. It was dangerous and hard but in six weeks they cleared and saved the RR.

I'd encourage any who are interest to go to YouTube and watch the video taken at the 40th anniversary of the RR in 2010. Sadly one of the founders, Ernie Robart, passed away suddenly of a stroke last month. Many of the pictures are his. It will take a couple of evenings to watch the videos but you will get a feel for what took place just a short 49 and 50 years ago.

C&TS 40th Anniversary Slide Shows

"In 2010, the C&TS celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the creation of the railroad, and the critical contributions of numerous volunteers. Part of the activities was a 2-night program of slides and comments presented by Terry Ross and Ernie Robart, 2 of the dedicated individuals who were primary organizers of what became the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad."