Quote
TRAINS New Wire
Cumbres & Toltec to move rotary plow next week
CHAMA, N.M. – The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will be moving it 3-foot-gauge rotary snow plow from Chama, N.M. to Antonito, Colo. for restoration on June 13.
In April, the railroad announced that it would be using the OY rotary in late February or early March 2020 to kick off the the railroad’s 50th anniversary year. The rotary has not been used in nearly a quarter century.
C&TS Assistant General Manager Stathi Pappas says the rotary is in “remarkable shape” but that it does need some mechanical and cosmetic work. The railroad will do most of the mechanical work and the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad will spearhead the cosmetic work.
John Bush, president of the Cumbres & Toltec, says the railroad plans on using former Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27 No. 463 to push the rotary from Chama to Cumbres where it will be turned on the wye and placed at the rear of the train. Bush says the plan to push the plow up Cumbres Pass is both for safety and the unique photo opportunity.
“We don’t want the rotary downgrade of the locomotive at this time,” Bush says. “It hasn’t been used in a number of years so we want to move it as safely as possible.”
Bush says next week’s move will have room for a few passengers. Anyone who is interested in riding that move in return for a donation is encouraged to call the railroad at 1-888-286-2737 or 575-219-3305.
The railroad says an exact date has not been selected for the run. The railroad plans to use the rotary over two days to clear as much of the 64-mile railroad as possible. The railroad is offering a limited number of tickets to see the event and those who are interested in attending are encouraged to send an email to
rmartinez@cumbrestoltec.com.
OY was built for the Denver & Rio Grande Western by Alco in 1923 and was last used in 1997.
