On a sunny summer morning, August 2014, we took the historic ride on the Cumbres & Toltec steam train from Antonito, CO to Chama, NM. The train runs over 10,015 ft. through the Cumbres Pass in the San Juan Mountains and is the highest narrow gauge steam railroad in the United States.
The morning started out warm, bright and sunny as we boarded and chugged through toward Chama with clear views and elevation increasing.
It doesn't take long for most of the passengers to leave their seats inside and join up in the open air Gondola car to enjoy the scenic country side and listen to the very knowledgeable docent tell railroad tales and relate much of the history of the narrow gauge and the colorful background of the "old west'.
As we climbed, the scenery became more beautiful and the clouds increased. We passed through Sublette station built in 1880 snapping shots from our digital cameras and cell phones and contemplating what a difference 134 years can reflect.
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| Entering Rock Tunnel |
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| Through the gorge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
We climb through the rock tunnel toward Cumbres Pass and view striking Toltec Gorge. A lovely abundant buffet lunch is served in Osier after which we wind down for the last hour or so to Chama. Rain falls as is typical in the afternoon here. The return trip is by bus back to Antonito.
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| Returning train in distance |
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| Rio Los Pinos Valley |
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| Kissing Man & Woman |
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| Approaching Osier for Lunch | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| CHAMA Station |
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| 'View from bus window return trip |
Upon leaving Antonito the next morning, wanted a pastoral view of a typical scene in Colorado, horses grazing peacefully.
Noticed as I got closer, that the horse had his head stuck in the barbed wire fence.
Jim came over to free him and the horse back away and then quickly returned for a thank you pat with the other horses acknowledging, then free to all retreat back into the pasture......
All while the big bull looked on.
