The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a 3-foot historic narrow gauge heritage railroad that runs between Antonito, CO and Chama, NM. The railroad is one of two remaining portions of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) narrow gauge system still surviving today, the other one being the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG), which operates between Durango and Silverton, CO.
The railroad first opened in 1970 and owns ten narrow gauge 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives, those being former D&RGW K-27 class No. 463, former D&RGW K-36 class Nos. 483, 484, 487, 488, and 489, and former D&RGW K-37 class Nos. 492, 494, 495, and 497. As of today, locomotives 463, 484, 487, 488, and 489 all still continue to operate on the C&TS. All of the steam locomotives on the C&TS are coal burners, but in June 2021, locomotive 489 was converted to burn oil and locomotive 487 was also recently converted to burn oil in August 2024. On February 16, 2022, the railroad announced that locomotives 492 and 497 will both be evaluated to determine which one is the best candidate for restoration back to operation. After careful evaluation of both locomotives, locomotive 492 was chosen for the restoration. The railroad also operates former D&RG T-12 class No. 168 and former D&RGW C-18 class No. 315, which are both on loan to the railroad and only used primarily on special excursions and charter trains.
In 2020, the railroad celebrated its 50th anniversary, although most of the events for that year were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to May 2023.
Locomotive Roster[]
Current Locomotives[]
| Image | Number | Builder | Build Date | Motive Power | Wheel Arrangement | Railroad | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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168 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1883 | Steam | 4-6-0 | Denver & Rio Grande | Restored to operating condition in October 2019. Leased from the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado for special excursions. |
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463 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1903 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Restored to operating condition in 1994. Taken out of service in October 2002. Rebuilt between 2009 and May 2013. |
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483 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Retired from excursion runs in 1977. Almost traded to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in exchange for K-28 No. 478 in 2015. Undergoing a cosmetic restoration as of 2016. |
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484 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Restored to operating condition in 1971. |
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487 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Restored to operating condition in 1973. Converted to burn oil in August 2024. |
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488 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Restored to operating condition in 1979. |
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489 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Restored to operating condition in 1981. Converted to burn oil in early June 2021. |
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492 | Baldwin Locomotive Works
Burnham Shops |
1928 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Undergoing restoration to operating condition as of August 9, 2023. |
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494 | Baldwin Locomotive Works
Burnham Shops |
1928 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Sitting on static display in Antonito, Colorado. |
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495 | Baldwin Locomotive Works
Burnham Shops |
1928 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Sitting on static display in Antonito, Colorado. |
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497 | Baldwin Locomotive Works
Burnham Shops |
1930 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Sold to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in March 1981. Restored to operating condition in 1984. Traded to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in exchange for K-36 No. 482 in October 1991. Taken out of service in October 2002. Stored in Chama, New Mexico awaiting a possible future overhaul. |
| Frameless | 8 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 1957 | Diesel | (B) | United States Army
Sundown & Southern |
Stored in Chama, New Mexico. Built as United States Army No. 548. |
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15 | General Electric (GE) | October 1943 | Diesel | (B-B) | Oahu Railway & Landing Co. | Currently operates out of Chama, New Mexico. |
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19 | General Electric (GE) | October 1943 | Diesel | (B-B) | Oahu Railway & Landing Co. | Nicknamed "Pineapple". Currently operates out of Antonito, Colorado. |
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114 | Bombardier Transportation | July 1982 | Diesel | (C-C) | White Pass & Yukon Route | Announced that the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad would acquire 114 from the WP&Y for $120,000 on November 11, 2023. Will be moved to the C&TS at some point in 2024. |
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OM | American Locomotive Company (ALCO) | 1889 | Steam | Rotary Snowplow | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Stored in Chama, New Mexico. |
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OY | American Locomotive Company (ALCO) | 1923 | Steam | Rotary Snowplow | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Stored in Chama, New Mexico. Previously operated in late February 2020. |
Former Locomotives[]
| Image | Number | Builder | Build Date | Motive Power | Wheel Arrangement | Railroad | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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12 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1928 | Steam | 2-6-2 | Kahului Railroad | Sold to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for storage after retirement from service. Sold again to the Silverwood amusement park where it operated until being sold off to the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Leased from the Georgetown Loop Railroad from September 2012 to early 2019. |
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482 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Steam | 2-8-2 | Denver & Rio Grande Western | Sold to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970. Traded to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in exchange for K-37 No. 497 in October 1991. Restored to operating condition in May 1992. Converted to burn oil on December 16, 2021. |
Visiting Locomotives[]
| Image | Number | Builder | Build Date | Motive Power | Wheel Arrangement | Railroad | Current Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frameless | 1 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1875 | Steam | 2-6-0 | Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Co. | Nevada State Railroad Museum | Named the "Glenbrook". |
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4 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1875 | Steam | 4-4-0 | Eureka & Palisade | Daniel Markoff (Private Owner) | Named the "Eureka". |
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20 | Schenectady Locomotive Works | April 1899 | Steam | 4-6-0 | Florence & Cripple Creek
Rio Grande Southern |
Colorado Railroad Museum | Nicknamed "Portland". Visited the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad between late August and early October 2021. |
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315 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1895 | Steam | 2-8-0 | Florence & Cripple Creek | Durango Railroad Historical Society | Restored to operating condition in August 2007. Leased from the Durango Railroad Historical Society for special excursions from 2016 to 2025. |
| Frameless | 5 | Rio Grande Southern Ridgway Shops | May 1933 | Motorized Railcar | (B-B-B) | Rio Grande Southern | Galloping Goose Historical Society | |
| Frameless | 7 | Rio Grande Southern Ridgway Shops | October 1936 | Motorized Railcar | (B-B-B) | Rio Grande Southern | Colorado Railroad Museum |
Trivia[]
- Locomotive 168 is not owned by the railroad, but is currently loaned to them by the City of Colorado Springs, CO for use on special excursion trains and photo charters.
- Locomotive 315 is not owned by the railroad, but it was loaned to them by the Durango Railroad Historical Society for use on special excursion trains and photo charters from 2016 to 2025.
- Locomotive 489 is the first locomotive on the railroad to be converted from burning coal to burning oil. Parts have also been ordered for another K-36 class locomotive, locomotive 487, to be converted to burn oil over the winter to 2022-2023.
- As of February 16, 2022, the railroad is currently evaluating locomotives 492 and 497 to see which one is more worthy for restoration back to operating condition. After careful evaluation of both locomotives, locomotive 492 was chosen for the restoration.
- Locomotive 497 is the only K-37 class locomotive to operate on both the D&SNG and the C&TS. It made its last run on the railroad in October 2002, but with locomotive 492 currently undergoing restoration to operating condition, it is unlikely to ever run again anytime soon.
- Locomotive 482 is the only K-36 class locomotive to never be restored by the railroad and was later traded to the D&SNG in October 1991 in exchange for locomotive 497.
- Locomotive 483 is the first former D&RGW locomotive to operate on the railroad from 1970 until it was permanently retired from operation in 1977. It is now undergoing a full cosmetic restoration in Chama, NM as of 2016.
- Locomotive 114 is the fifth former WP&Y narrow gauge diesel locomotive to be retired by the WP&Y and sold off in recent years, the others being WP&Y Nos. 101, 103, 106, and 107, all four of which were acquired by the D&SNG back in April 2020.
- The railroad owns a wooden elevator Coal Tipple located in Chama, NM. It's still in use but only on special occasions.
- In 1975, locomotive 483 made a Hollywood appearance in the western film from Columbia Pictures: Bite the Bullet starring Candace Bergen.